## RateZip llms-full.txt URL: https://www.ratezip.com/llms-full.txt - Generated: 2026-09-07T03:45:04.202Z - Canonical summary: https://www.ratezip.com/llms.txt - NMLS: Peklava LLC DBA RateZip, NMLS ID 1592292 Summary: Expanded machine-readable index of RateZip's public editorial, guide, review, local-rate, program, and data pages for answer engines. Excludes pages marked noindex in the migrated content corpus. ## Core RateZip pages URL: https://www.ratezip.com Summary: RateZip is a licensed US mortgage broker and financial comparison site. Core pages include /mortgage, /reverse, /rate-index, /methodology, /licenses-and-disclosures, /about-us, /home-equity-calculator, and /auto-insurance-calculator. ## Buying a Home: First-Time Buyers, Offers & Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/guides/buying-a-home - Type: evergreen guide - Published: 2026-07-20 Summary: How to buy a home: first-time buyer loan options, down payment assistance programs, making offers, smart overbidding, and the process from start to close. Content excerpt: Buying a home comes down to five things: choosing the right loan, finding help with your down payment, making a competitive offer, knowing when a bid over asking price is justified, and managing the process from preapproval through closing. First-time homebuyers have far more options than most people assume, including mortgages that require between zero and 3.5 percent down and thousands of assistance programs run by federal, state, and local agencies. This guide walks through each stage of the purchase, with the durable rules that hold up in any market. Loan Options for First-Time Homebuyers: A first-time homebuyer does not need a 20 percent down payment to get a mortgage. Government-backed loans such as FHA, VA, and USDA mortgages, along with conventional low-down-payment programs like Conventional 97, Fannie Mae HomeReady, and Freddie Mac Home Possible, let qualified buyers purchase a home with between zero and 3.5 percent down. The best fit for a first-time buyer depends on credit profile, location, military service, income, and how long you expect to stay in the home. FHA loans are insured by the Federal Housing Administration, which is why lenders can accept down payments as low as 3.5 percent and credit scores well below what conventional loans typically require. The trade-off is mortgage insurance: FHA loans carry both an upfront premium at closing and an ongoing monthly premium, and on most FHA loans that monthly insurance cannot be cancelled the way conventional private mortgage insurance can. For buyers with thin or imperfect credit, FHA is often the most accessible path to ownership. Conventional low-down-payment programs compete directly with FHA. A few worth knowing: Conventional 97 requires just 3 percent down. You will pay private mortgage insurance, but unlike most FHA loans, PMI can be cancelled once you build enough equity, and there is no upfront insurance fee. Credit requirements are stricter than FHA. Fannie Mae HomeReady and Freddie Mac Home Possible also allow 3 percent down with cancellable PMI. They add flexibility that helps many first-time buyers qualify: gift funds from family or friends can cover the entire down payment, and income from a roommate or boarder can count toward qualification. Both require a homebuyer education course, which is genuinely useful preparation for managing a mortgage. USDA loans require no down payment at all. They are limited to homes in rural areas and smaller towns and carry income limits, but far more of the country is geographically eligible than most buyers expect. USDA loans feature low rates and inexpensive mortgage insurance, though that insurance cannot be cancelled and credit standards are somewhat higher than FHA. VA loans are available to eligible members of the military community, … ## Credit Scores & Getting Out of Debt URL: https://www.ratezip.com/guides/credit-and-debt - Type: evergreen guide - Published: 2026-07-20 Summary: Learn how credit scores work, habits that raise them, debt-relief options and scam warning signs, plus how to protect your credit after any data breach. Content excerpt: Your credit score is a summary of one thing: how likely you are to repay what you borrow, on time. Understanding how that number is calculated - and how lenders read it - is the foundation for everything else in personal finance, from qualifying for a mortgage to digging out of credit card debt. This guide covers how credit scores and credit reports actually work, the everyday habits that raise a score, the legitimate paths out of serious debt (and the scams that imitate them), and how to protect your credit after a data breach. How Credit Scores Work - and Whether Checking Yours Lowers It: Checking your own credit score does not lower it. When you look up your own score or pull your own credit report, the credit bureaus record it as a soft inquiry , which has no effect on your number at all. Only hard inquiries - the checks a lender runs when you actually apply for new credit - can shave off a few points, and even that impact typically fades within a couple of years. It helps to be clear about what the score actually is. Your credit report is a detailed record of your borrowing history: your accounts, balances, credit limits, and whether you have paid on time. Your credit score is a single number calculated from that report by a scoring model. One is a file and the other is a summary statistic, and both matter, because lenders use the score to answer a single question: how likely is this person to fall seriously behind on a new debt over the next couple of years? A strong score reflects a long record of on-time payments and moderate borrowing; a weak one usually reflects missed payments or heavy reliance on credit. The soft-versus-hard distinction comes down to why the check is happening. A soft inquiry occurs when you check your own credit, when a company pre-screens you for an offer, or when someone runs a background check - no new credit is being extended, so nothing changes. A hard inquiry occurs when you formally apply for a credit card, auto loan, or mortgage. Because a burst of applications can signal that someone is scrambling for credit, several hard inquiries in a short window can cost a few points. A single inquiry for a purposeful application - a mortgage, for example - is rarely a problem for a healthy credit file. Do not obsess over a "perfect" score, either. Common scoring scales top out at 850, but lenders think in ranges rather than exact numbers - a score comfortably in the top tier gets the same treatment whether or not it is literally the maximum. That means losing a few points to a hard inquiry will not knock a strong borrower out of the best pricing. The recipe for an excellent score is unglamorous: do not borrow too much too often, and pay every bill on time, for a long time. Finally, … ## Mortgage Basics: Rates, Terms & How Mortgages Work URL: https://www.ratezip.com/guides/mortgage-basics - Type: evergreen guide - Published: 2026-07-20 Summary: How mortgages work, explained in plain English: interest rate vs. APR, fixed and adjustable loan types, FHA/VA/USDA backing, amortization, and how to apply. Content excerpt: A mortgage is a loan secured by the home it pays for: you borrow a lump sum from a lender, then repay it in monthly installments of principal and interest over a set term, commonly 15 or 30 years. The rate you pay, the fees rolled into the loan, and the loan type you choose determine what the home ultimately costs you. This guide walks through the core concepts every borrower should understand before comparing offers - from the difference between an interest rate and an APR to what actually happens between application and closing. Interest Rate vs. APR: What Each Number Tells You: A mortgage's interest rate is the yearly percentage the lender charges on the loan balance, and it is the main driver of the monthly payment. A mortgage's APR, or annual percentage rate, is a broader measure: it expresses the total yearly cost of the loan by combining the interest rate with most of the fees charged to get it. Because it captures both rate and fees, APR is the more complete number for comparing loan offers of the same type and term. The two numbers exist side by side for a reason. Federal law - the Truth in Lending Act - requires lenders that advertise a rate to disclose the APR and the other terms that affect it. The rule exists to stop a lender from advertising an unusually low interest rate and then recovering the difference through heavy fees. When the APR sits well above the interest rate on a quote, that gap is the fees talking. Not every cost makes it into the APR, so always ask for an itemized breakdown. Typical treatment looks like this: Usually included: discount points, prepaid interest, loan-processing and underwriting fees, document-preparation fees, private mortgage insurance, and escrow or settlement fees. Usually excluded: title fees, attorney and notary fees, home-inspection and appraisal fees, recording fees, transfer taxes, and the credit-report charge. APR does not set your monthly payment - the interest rate, loan amount, and term do that. Its job is to show what the loan costs overall, which is why smart comparison shopping looks at both numbers together. Two rules keep the comparison honest. First, compare like with like: one loan's interest rate against another's interest rate, one APR against another APR - never a rate against an APR. Second, weigh how long you expect to keep the loan. Paying more in upfront fees for a lower rate only pays off if you hold the mortgage past the break-even point; if you are likely to sell or refinance within a few years, a higher rate with lower fees can be the cheaper choice. One caution for adjustable-rate loans: the APR on an ARM is calculated from the rate in effect at the start, so it usually says nothing about how high the rate could climb later. For those loans, … ## Refinancing Your Mortgage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/guides/refinancing - Type: evergreen guide - Published: 2026-07-20 Summary: Learn when refinancing a mortgage makes sense: break-even math, rate-and-term vs. cash-out, home equity alternatives, and how to shop lenders with confidence. Content excerpt: Refinancing your mortgage means replacing your current home loan with a new one, usually to lower your interest rate, change your loan term, or convert home equity into cash. It makes sense when your monthly savings outweigh the closing costs within the time you plan to keep the home, a calculation known as the break-even point. This guide explains when refinancing pays off, how rate-and-term and cash-out refinances differ, when a home equity loan is the better tool, what special refinance programs exist, and how to shop lenders and prepare for the process. When Refinancing Makes Sense: The Break-Even Point: Refinancing a mortgage makes sense when the money you save each month will outlast the money it costs to close the new loan. The test is a simple break-even calculation: divide your total closing costs by your expected monthly savings, and the result is the number of months it takes for the refinance to pay for itself. If you plan to keep the home longer than that, refinancing is likely to work in your favor; if you expect to sell or move sooner, it usually is not. Refinance closing costs typically run about 2% to 5% of the loan amount, covering items such as origination fees, an appraisal, title work, and recording charges, and they can be higher if you pay discount points to buy the rate down. Here is the classic illustration: if you pay $4,500 in fees to save $150 a month, you break even in 30 months. Stay in the home past that point and every additional month is genuine savings. Leave before it and the refinance cost you money overall, even though the monthly payment was lower. The interest rate is only half of the equation, because the loan term matters just as much. Refinancing a 30-year mortgage into a brand-new 30-year loan pushes your payoff date further into the future, which can add years of interest charges even at a lower rate. Before you commit, price out the alternatives: Match your remaining term. Many lenders can write a new loan with roughly the same payoff date as your current one, so the lower rate translates into pure savings rather than a longer runway. Shorten the term. Moving from a 30-year to a 15-year loan raises the monthly payment but sharply reduces total interest and builds equity faster. Keep the new 30-year term but prepay. If you want the flexibility of a lower required payment, you can still apply your monthly savings to principal and pay the loan off early. Rate environments come and go, and no one has a working crystal ball. History has seen repeated refinance booms in which millions of homeowners could cut their rate meaningfully, and long stretches in which most borrowers already held rates below the market and refinancing to save on rate made little sense. Rather than trying to time the exact bottom, … ## Reverse Mortgages: The Complete Guide URL: https://www.ratezip.com/guides/reverse-mortgages - Type: evergreen guide - Published: 2026-07-20 Summary: Learn how reverse mortgages (HECMs) work: who qualifies at 62+, payout options, true costs, how they compare to home equity loans, and how to avoid scams. Content excerpt: A reverse mortgage is a loan that lets homeowners aged 62 and older convert part of their home equity into cash while continuing to live in and own their home, with no required monthly mortgage payments. This guide explains how reverse mortgages and FHA-insured HECMs work, who qualifies, the pros, cons, and costs, how they differ from home equity loans and second mortgages, and how to recognize and avoid reverse mortgage scams. How Reverse Mortgages Work: HECM Basics: A reverse mortgage is a loan that allows homeowners aged 62 and older to borrow against the equity in their home while they continue to live in it. Unlike a traditional mortgage, the borrower does not make required monthly payments; instead, the loan balance is repaid when the last borrower sells the home, moves out permanently, or passes away. The most common type is the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM), a reverse mortgage offered through FHA-approved lenders and insured by the Federal Housing Administration. The idea is older than many people realize. The first reverse mortgage was written in 1961 to help a widow stay in her home after losing her husband's income, and the core premise has not changed since: let older homeowners tap the value of a home they already own without having to sell it or take on a new monthly payment. In a traditional mortgage, you borrow money to buy a house and pay the lender back over time. In a reverse mortgage, you already own the house and the lender pays you, using the home as collateral. Borrowers can choose how they receive their funds. Common options include: A full or partial lump sum paid up front A line of credit you draw on as needed Monthly payments that supplement other income A combination of these options How you take the money affects how much you can access: a line of credit typically makes the most proceeds available over time, while a large up-front lump sum may make the least. Several other factors also determine how much you can borrow, including your age (older borrowers can generally access more), your home's value, current interest rates (lower rates mean more available funds), and any existing loans on the property. If you still have a balance on a traditional mortgage, it must be paid off with the reverse mortgage proceeds before you can use the rest for anything else. A lender will calculate your exact available amount from these factors. HECM lending limits are set annually by the FHA, so even a very valuable home can only support a loan up to that year's limit. For homes worth more than the limit, some lenders offer proprietary "jumbo" reverse mortgages, but these are not federally insured and do not carry the same protections as a HECM. When the loan comes due, it is usually repaid from the sale of the home. … ## Saving, Banking & Everyday Money URL: https://www.ratezip.com/guides/saving-and-banking - Type: evergreen guide - Published: 2026-07-20 Summary: How to build an emergency fund, harness compound interest, choose short-term savings, use bank bonuses, budget with calculators, and save for retirement. Content excerpt: Strong everyday finances rest on a few durable habits: keep an emergency fund in a safe, liquid account, let compound interest work for you by chasing the best APY, match every savings vehicle to its time horizon, and treat windfalls and bonuses with a plan instead of an impulse. This guide walks through each of those pillars, from your first $1,000 of emergency savings to deciding where you can afford to retire. Rates change constantly, so wherever yield matters we point you to live data rather than quoting numbers that will be stale tomorrow. How to Build an Emergency Fund: An emergency fund is cash reserved strictly for genuine emergencies, such as a job loss, a medical bill, or an urgent home or car repair. Most planners suggest saving at least three months of essential living expenses and keeping the money somewhere safe, liquid, and low-fee, such as a savings or money market account. For emergency savings, stability and fast access matter more than squeezing out the highest possible return. The most effective first step is opening a dedicated account used only for emergencies. Keeping this money separate from your everyday checking account removes the temptation to spend it on impulse purchases, and leaving the debit card at home makes the separation real. Look for an account with three qualities: Minimal or no fees , so the balance is not eroded while it sits. Low risk - not stocks or other volatile investments that could be down 20% the week you need the money. Easy access , meaning you can get cash within a day or two without penalties. Savings accounts, checking accounts, and money market accounts all fit this profile. Certificates of deposit generally do not, because early-withdrawal penalties work against the whole point of an emergency reserve. Consistency beats size. If you are paid by direct deposit, route a slice of each paycheck into the emergency account automatically, or set up a recurring transfer between accounts. Even $5 a week becomes $260 in a year, and automating the transfer means you never have to re-make the decision. When unexpected cash arrives - a work bonus, a tax refund - divert a portion of it to the fund before it disappears into daily spending. How much is enough? Any cushion beats none, so do not let a large target stop you from starting. A common progression is to aim first for $1,000, then one month of essential expenses, then three months - groceries, rent or mortgage, utilities, transportation, insurance, and minimum debt payments. Households with variable income, or those who simply want maximum resilience, often extend the target to six months or even a full year of essentials. Reaching each milestone makes the next one feel attainable. Finally, an emergency fund is also a debt-prevention tool. … ## VA Loans & Military Homebuying URL: https://www.ratezip.com/guides/va-loans - Type: evergreen guide - Published: 2026-07-20 Summary: Learn how VA loans work: eligibility for veterans, Guard, Reserve, and surviving spouses, $0 down benefits, the funding fee, construction loans, and COE steps. Content excerpt: VA loans let eligible veterans, active-duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and certain surviving spouses buy or build a home with no down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance. The loans are guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs but issued by private lenders, so it still pays to compare offers. This guide covers eligibility, the core benefits, the funding fee, VA construction loans, common myths, and how to get your Certificate of Eligibility. What Is a VA Loan and How Does It Work?: A VA loan is a mortgage guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) but issued by private lenders such as banks, credit unions, and mortgage companies. Because the federal guarantee protects the lender against a large share of the loss if a borrower defaults, lenders can offer eligible veterans, service members, and surviving spouses financing with no down payment, no monthly mortgage insurance, and competitive terms. The program has existed since 1944 and has helped more than 24 million service members become homeowners. The guarantee is the engine that makes everything else work. The VA does not hand out mortgages itself; it promises participating lenders that if a qualified borrower stops paying, the government will absorb a significant portion of the loss. That backstop lowers the lender's risk, and the savings get passed to the borrower as easier qualification, less cash required up front, and rates that are often as good as or better than comparable conventional loans. Rates still vary from lender to lender, though, which is why it always pays to compare several offers - you can follow how mortgage rates move over time in our rate index . Compared with a conventional mortgage, a VA loan differs in several important ways: No down payment required. Conventional loans generally require one; a VA loan lets qualified borrowers finance the full purchase price. No private mortgage insurance (PMI). Conventional borrowers who put down less than 20 percent usually pay a monthly insurance premium. VA borrowers never do, because the government guarantee takes its place. No prepayment penalty. You can make extra payments or pay the loan off early without being charged for it, which can save a substantial amount of interest. Limits on certain closing costs. The VA restricts some of the fees a borrower can be charged, and the seller is allowed to pay closing costs on the borrower's behalf. Assumability. A VA loan can be assumed by a qualified buyer when you sell, which is not true of most mortgage products. Built-in support. The VA offers financial counseling to VA borrowers who run into hardship, a safety net conventional loans do not include. A VA loan is also not a one-shot benefit. You do not need to be a first-time buyer, … ## Academy Mortgage Corporation URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/academy-mortgage-corporation - Type: lender review - Provider: Academy Mortgage Corporation - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://academymortgage.com/home/index Content excerpt: About Academy Mortgage Corporation is a direct lender with head quarters found in Salt Lake City, UT. It has 260 branches total, and can originate loans in 49 states plus Washington, D.C. Academy Mortgage has been in business for over 28 years. In 2014, Academy Mortgage acquired Republic Mortgage. You may be wondering what makes a direct lender different than other lenders. For one thing, working with a direct lender can result in your loan closing faster. This is because direct lenders can process, underwrite, close, and fund loans right at their own offices, and can sometimes even get your loan expedited. If you’d like to get your loan funded quickly, working with a direct lender may be the way to go. Academy Mortgage has conventional mortgage products, VA loans, USDA loans, and more. And, if you’re in need of commercial lending, check out Academy Commercial. While Academy Commercial is not a direct lender, they only charge a fee if your loan is successfully closed, which means that they’ll do everything they can to get you the loan you need. Academy Mortgage also created the Academy Mortgage Foundation, which aims to make safe homes available for those in need, both in their local communities as well as around the world. Those interested in supporting the cause can donate on their website. … ## Accredited Debt Relief URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/accredited-debt-relief - Type: lender review - Provider: Accredited Debt Relief - Website: https://www.accrediteddebtrelief.com/ Content excerpt: About Accredited Debt Relief provides free consultations to clients and can help you get in contact with the company that meets your needs. Accredited has a network of debt relief companies that they suggest to clients based off of their clients’ debt and financial situation. While Accredited Debt Relief is not a debt relief company, it can be worth contacting them to help find the company that’s best for you. Accredited Debt Relief has an A+ Rating by the Better Business Bureau, as well as a list of how much some of their previous clients have saved. Some of these clients saved over $10,000! To help you understand how much you might save, Accredited has a savings calculator - just plug in your amount of debt and how long you would like the program to be, and you see your potential savings. Accredited lists debt relief options as the following: Bankruptcy, Debt Consolidation, Debt Management, and Debt Settlement. Accredited provides a detailed description of each on their website, as well as how they can help clients. The negotiators who work with Accredit Debt Relief have helped thousands of clients. Could they also help you? Learn more about debt consolidation on RateZip. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## AimLoan.Com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/aimloan-com - Type: lender review - Provider: AimLoan.com - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.aimloan.com/ Content excerpt: About AimLoan.com does just what they say in their website name - they aim to help you get the loan that’s best for you! If you’re looking for a loan, AimLoan can get you a rate quote in under 60 seconds, without even having to provide personal information. And since rates are updated every day, you can have confidence that your quote is accurate. If you decide to move forward with AimLoan.com, you’ll fill out an easy, online application that will automatically be submitted to their Automated Underwriting System. If you’re approved, you can choose whether you want to lock or float your rate. (That means if your rate is good, you can lock it down to keep it, or you can wait to see if it will go down further, although it may go up!) AimLoan keeps their borrowers updated regularly, and they now have more than 72,000 loyal customers! They’ve funded more than $21 billion in mortgages, and people like them so much that most of their business actually comes from repeat customers. If people keep on coming back to them, you know they must be doing something right. By using AimLoan.com, you don’t have to go through a mortgage broker or a loan officer. This can help save on some of the costs. They also guarantee their closing costs, so that you don’t have to guess what you’ll be paying when your loan closes. … ## Alliance Home Loans URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/alliance-home-loans - Type: lender review - Provider: Alliance Home Loans - Website: https://alliancehomeloans.com/ Content excerpt: About Alliance Home Loans opened their doors in 2004 under the name Alliance Financial Resources LLC. While they started with six employees, they eventually grew to have over 200 employees, including 100 loan originators. They were found in 27 states, and every year they funded over 3,000 loans. Alliance Home Loans closed in 2018. Alliance offered conventional loans, VA loans, reverse mortgages, and expanded opportunity loans, which they say were their specialty. Expanded opportunity loans are for those who may have a hard time getting a loan due to their credit score or financial history. In addition, Alliance also offered free mortgage checkups, so you could determine whether or not you should refinance. Some benefits of refinancing include lower interest rates and monthly payments, debt consolidation, and paying off your house more quickly. Alliance was located primarily in the southwest United States. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Allstate Bank / Discover Bank: Mortgage Rates, CD Rates & More URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/allstate-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Allstate Bank, now Discover Bank - Website: https://www.accessallstate.com/agencylending/ Content excerpt: About Allstate Bank was a subsidiary The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL), and a sister company to the Allstate Insurance Company. Via its agent network, the bank was able to help insurance customers gain additional financial security through innovative personal financial planning and bank products. Allstate offered: savings products, CDs (certificate of deposit), mortgage loans, insured money market accounts, checking accounts, and home equity products. In 2011, Allstate agreed to sell its $1.1 billion in deposits to Discover Bank and stopped operating Allstate Bank.. Allstate Bank received its charter in 1998, and the bank began operating in 2001. Allstate Bank did not fail or run into serious trouble; the insurance giant simply decided to focus on its core offerings and shuttered its banking division. Due to a multi-year marketing agreement, Allstate agents now offer Discover Bank products to customers. See how Discover's interest rates compare on RateZip! This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Ally Bank: Today's CD Rates, High Yield Savings, Reviews & Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/ally-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Ally Bank - Rating: 4/5 - Website: http://www.ally.com/ Content excerpt: About Ally Bank, a subsidiary of Ally Financial, is a direct bank serving customers over the Internet. Ally promotes CDs, savings accounts and other deposit products without minimum deposits, monthly fees or minimum balance. It also offers Auto Loans, retirement/IRA accounts. Ally was the 2013 recipient of the Stevie Award for innovations in customer service and Money Magazine's 2012 award for Best Online Bank. Ally's history dates all the way back to 1919, when the General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC) was founded to provide financing for new car purchases and leases. In 2009, GMAC Bank was rebranded as Ally Bank. Today, Ally is no longer associated with General Motors, although Ally Financial is still headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. Ally Bank's headquarters are in Midvale, Utah. Ally Bank is one of the largest direct-to-consumer Internet banks with over 1 million accounts. Additionally, the company provides many auto loans every year, with over 1.5 million loans since 2011. Ally offers traditional checking & savings accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit (CDs). Interested in seeing how Ally Bank interest rates compare to other top banks? Find out now! This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Alma Bank: Today's CD Rates, Savings Accounts, Reviews & Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/alma-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Alma Bank - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.almabank.com/ Content excerpt: About Alma Bank, created in 2007, is a local community bank based in New York City. The bank provides traditional bank account services, including checking, savings, and business accounts. Additionally, Alma Bank offers competitive CD rates and money market accounts. As a local bank, Alma puts a heavy emphasis on community relationships and boosting community accountholders with its financial services. It may be surprising to learn that Alma was founded in 2007. After all, the recent financial crisis began around the same time. However, Efstathios Valiotis, along with about 100 other investors, gathered around $50 million in capital and founded Alma Bank, created in part to serve the Greek-American community in New York. At the time it was created, Alma was the largest state chartered bank in New York's history. The bank has big plans for the future - its goals are $2 billion in assets by 2015 and 20 total banking branches. The bank currently has 12 branches between NY and New Jersey. Alma Bank offers a wide array of financial products. This includes traditional savings and checking accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), and money market accounts. Alma's CDs come in a variety of maturities, from 1 month to 60 months (five years). Check out Alma Bank CD rates and more in RateZip's lender marketplace! Alma Bank Locations: New York - 1. 28-31 31st Street, Astoria, New York, … ## Alpine Mortgage Planning URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/alpine-mortgage-planning - Type: lender review - Provider: Alpine Mortgage Planning - Website: https://www.alpinemc.com/ Content excerpt: About Alpine Mortgage Planning is a division of Finance of America Mortgage LLC. Pinnacle Capital Mortgage, Alpine Mortgage’s founding company, began in early 2008. Alpine Mortgage currently has branches in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, and California. Alpine Mortgage offers conventional loans, government loans, jumbo loans, as well as no cost mortgages. If you’re unsure about the mortgage process and want to understand it better, Alpine Mortgage breaks it down into simple steps. First is the application, which you can do right on Alpine Mortgage’s website. Next is the qualification, which Alpine Mortgage says will take approximately twenty four hours, or slightly longer for alternative loan products. Then the borrower has to send them all the required documents; this is the step that often takes the most time. Then an appraisal and a title report will be ordered. Once all the information is gathered, it will be submitted to the underwriter. The underwriter may have some conditions before approving. Once you have the underwriter’s approval, the closing documents can be ordered. You will have to sign the closing documents, and generally about one or two days later, the loan will be funded and recorded. Want to learn more about mortgages? Continue reading on RateZip! This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. … ## American Equity Mortgage Today's Home Mortgage Rates & Refinancing URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/american-equity-mortgage - Type: lender review - Provider: American Equity Mortgage - Website: http://www.americanequity.com/ Content excerpt: About American Equity Mortgage is no longer in business, having closed in 2018 after competition proved to be too fierce. To learn more about American Equity Mortgage, read below. American Equity Mortgage was a St. Louis, MO based mortgage lender. The company was well known for its direct-to-consumer advertising via radio, television, mail and the internet, although American Equity also had nearly 20 brick & mortar locations. Licensed in 25 states, AEM offered home equity loans, mortgage loans for home purchase, refinance loans and Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) loans. American Equity Mortgage was known for its excellent service and low rates. AEM was committed to it's “three I's: integrity, intensity, and impeccable customer service.” American Equity Mortgage was founded by Deanna Daughhetee, the current President & CEO, in 1992. Since then, AEM had grown into one of the top mortgage bankers in the United States, with licensing to originate home loans in Alabama; Florida; Georgia; Illinois; Indiana; Kansas; Kentucky; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Minnesota; Missouri; New Hampshire; New York; North Carolina; Ohio; Oklahoma; Oregon; Pennsylvania; South Carolina; Tennessee; Utah; Virginia; Washington; and Wisconsin. While not quite a national footprint, American Equity could lend to a large percentage of the US population. … ## American Express Bank: Today's CD Rates, High Yield Savings, Reviews URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/american-express-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: AMEX Bank - Website: https://personalsavings.americanexpress.com/index.html Content excerpt: About American Express Bank, FSB, the banking division of American Express (NYSE: AXP) offers online savings accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs). AMEX Bank has rates available on high yield savings accounts and CDs. American Express card members may qualify for additional benefits. American Express, one of the best known American brands, dates back all the way 1850, when it began its life as a mail company. AMEX moved into financial services in 1882, and the company began offering its iconic credit card in the late 1950s. Today, American Express operates a massive financial company, including American Express Bank. Unlike traditional banks, American Express Bank does not have brick and mortar branches and offers a very limited selection of products. In fact, AMEX prominently advertises that its bank offers only “two simple products” - high yield savings and CDs, both classified as “Personal Savings.” The AMEX high yield savings product offers a yield much higher than a traditional bank's savings account, and the interest rate is variable depending on economic conditions. The bank requires no minimums and does not charge fees. AMEX Bank's certificates of deposit are available in many different maturities. These are 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 36 months, 48 months, and 60 months. As with all CD rates, … ## Amerisave: Mortgage Lender Reviews, Ratings, Complaints, BBB Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/amerisave-mortgage-rates - Type: lender review - Provider: AmeriSave Mortgage - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://apply.amerisave.com/loan/ams-goal/?source=4972&LeadID=7&RateZipID=7 Content excerpt: About AmeriSave Mortagage is a large discount retail mortgage banker, with a large online presence and national licensing, meaning that it can lend in 49 states and Washington DC. (AmeriSave is not licensed in NY.) AmeriSave has grown into one of the largest non-bank mortgage lenders in the United States. With AmeriSave, prospective borrowers can fill out an application online and request a rate lock without ever needing to speak directly to a loan officer. AmeriSave Mortgage offers a wide variety of mortgage products, including VA, USDA, and jumbo home loans. Whether you're looking to refinance a mortgage loan, purchase a new home, or buy your first house, AmeriSave is a lender that you should consider for your home loan. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## AmeriValue URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/amerivalue - Type: lender review - Provider: AmeriValue, a Trade Name of LeadPoint Inc. - Website: https://mortgage.amerivalue.com/mortgage.fhtml?formFlowConfigId=1160&estprg=1&viewType=FULL&marketingIntentAssignmentType=AFFILIATE&publisherType=AFFILIATE&placementid=955251&iradid=262779&irclickid=xuMz3awVqyDUwOvRC3RGZVKJUkmUtrQQEWsZTA0&clickid=168308766-1510158505084-590421172956888070&irClickEventId=irc-015f-9d0aebe8-14324#0 Content excerpt: About AmeriValue is a trade name of LeadPoint Inc., a lead generation company headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Through the AmeriValue online platform, potential borrowers can view and compare mortgage rates. To start, potential borrowers fill out a simple form. It takes less than a minute, and they don’t have to log in or create an account. There’s even a progress bar to show how much of the form has been completed. With nearly 2,000 lenders as partners, including Citibank, Bank of America, Chase, and more, AmeriValue lets customers find the offer that’s best for them. A link to a complete list of lenders is provided on AmeriValue’s website. Lots of people have used AmeriValue’s services. In fact, as of this writing, over 2 million borrowers have used the AmeriValue platform. Learn more about other comparison services right here on RateZip! This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## AmTrust Direct: Today's CD Rates, Money Market Accounts (MMA), Reviews URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/amtrust-direct - Type: lender review - Provider: AmTrust Direct - Status: no longer operating since 2009 - business now with New York Community Bank Content excerpt: About AmTrust Direct was originally the online division of AmTrust Bank, which became part of New York Community Bank in 2009. AmTrust offered CD and high yield money market accounts, all FDIC insured. AmTrust Bank was founded in 1889 under the name Ohio Savings Bank. The bank grew from a small community lender into a bank with over 60 branches in multiple states. However, AmTrust failed in 2009, and New York Community Bank acquired its assets. AmTrust's Ohio branches are now Ohio Savings Bank, while AmTrust Direct kept its name. AmTrust Direct essentially offered two products - certificates of deposit (CDs) of varying maturities, and money market accounts that required a minimum of $5,000 to open. CDs were available in 7 and 60 month (5 year) maturities, and you only needed to deposit $500 to earn the stated APY. As of June 2018, AmTrust Direct’s acquiring bank, New York Community Bank (NYCB), has $50.5 billion in assets. NYCB operates in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Ohio and Arizona. Customers in these states can browse NYCB’s financial products, including checking accounts, savings accounts, CDs, money market accounts, mortgages and credit cards. Search for today's CD rates and money market account rates on RateZip! This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Arcus Lending URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/arcus-lending - Type: lender review - Provider: Arcus Lending - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.arcuslending.com/ Content excerpt: About Arcus Lending is a direct lender as well as a mortgage broker. This allows them to compare their rates with other lenders to help the borrower get a competitive rate. In fact, through them, Arcus Lending claims you can get the “Best Mortgage.” They clarify that this does not mean the mortgage with the lowest rate, but rather that their unique combination of customer service, advisors, and competitive rates together gives their clients the best mortgage experience. If you didn’t get the interest rate you wanted, or if you did but you want an even better interest rate, Arcus Lending also has a “Mortgage Under Management” service. By constantly monitoring interest rates, Arcus Lending is prepared to immediately notify borrowers if interest rates drop. Then the borrowers can refinance if they so choose. If you want to work with Arcus Lending, there are three different ways you can get started. You can apply for pre-approval, request a rate quote, or schedule a one-on-one consultation. If you’re ready to start your mortgage journey, Arcus Lending is there to help. How does Arcus Lending compare with other lenders and mortgage brokers? Find out right here on RateZip! This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Ascencia / PBI Bank Mortgage & CD Rates, Reviews & Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/ascencia-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Ascencia Bank - Website: https://www.limestonebank.com/ Content excerpt: About Ascencia Bank, headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, was the Internet division of Porter Bancorp (PBI Bank). PBI Bank was created in 1996, and the company launched Ascencia in 1999. Ascencia Bank offered competitive CD rates, savings rates, checking accounts, and other consumer banking products to consumers across the United States. PBI Bank is a community lender serving the state of Kentucky. Currently, the bank operates 18 brick and mortar banking branches throughout the state. PBI offers many of the same consumer banking products as Ascencia, but it also originates auto loans and home mortgages. As a mortgage lender, PBI Bank offers consumers in Kentucky conventional mortgages, mortgage refinancing, second mortgages, and home equity loans. In 2018, PBI Bank changed its name to Limestone Bank. Porter Bancorp created Ascencia Bank in anticipation of the growing influence of the Internet and as a way to serve customers across the nation. Though the Internet-only bank had a more limited product offering, consumers could conduct all banking via the web and mobile devices. Ascencia is no longer available, but interested customers can still do their business with PBI Bank. Ascencia Bank did not charge a monthly fee, nor did it require a minimum balance. Internet-only banking is not for everyone. That said, … ## Astoria Bank Mortgage Rates, Reviews & Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/astoria-federal-savings-bank-rates - Type: lender review - Provider: Astoria Bank - Rating: 3/5 - Website: http://www.astoriabank.com/ Content excerpt: About Astoria Bank merged with Sterling National Bank in October of 2017, and its branches became Sterling National branches. Astoria Bank, formerly known as Astoria Federal Savings, was located in Lake Success, New York. The company serves customers in the state of New York, primarily those located in Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties. Astoria Bank's philosophy is “Putting people first.” Originally founded in 1888 as the Central Permanent Building and Loan Association, the company became Astoria Federal in 1936 and received its bank charter in 1937. In the 1990's, Astoria Federal acquired Fidelity New York Savings Bank, Greater New York Savings Bank, and Long Island Savings Bank. These acquisitions helped Astoria Federal grow its market share and serve a larger number of New Yorkers. As of early 2013, Astoria Bank has over $16 billion in assets and $10.4 billion in deposits, making it the largest thrift depository in New York. Astoria Federal operates 85 local bank branches, over 100 ATMs, and offers extensive services on its website. Astoria Federal offers the usual financial products, including mortgage loans, savings accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), home equity loans, and more. In 2014 Astoria Federal Savings officially changed its name to Astoria Bank. The new name reflects the bank's growth into a full-service community bank. … ## Atlantic Coast Mortgage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/atlantic-coast-mortgage - Type: lender review - Provider: Atlantic Coast Mortgage - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.atlanticcoastmortgage.com/ Content excerpt: About Atlantic Coast Mortgage, or ACM for short, was founded in 2011. They currently have ten locations: seven in Virginia, one in D. C., one in Maryland, and one in South Carolina. They are an independent mortgage company, and they state on their website that they have no plans of being bought or merging with a larger bank. This is an important bit of information, as many new mortgage companies do end up being bought or merging. If you choose to work with such a mortgage company and they merge or are acquired by a different bank, you could find your mortgage experience changing drastically. ACM processes their loans in-house, which gives them more control and also allows loans to be closed faster. Their loan products include fixed rate loans, construction & renovation loans, refinancing, specialized financing, and reverse mortgages. If you work with ACM, you can contact its loan officers anytime, even on weekends or after business hours. This is especially useful if you have a question about your loan that requires a fast answer. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Austin First Mortgage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/austin-first-mortgage - Type: lender review - Provider: Austin First Mortgage - Rating: 3/5 - Website: http://austinfirstmortgage.website/ Content excerpt: About As a mortgage broker, Austin First Mortgage can help you find a loan that suits your needs while having the lowest rate possible. Mortgage brokers help you compare different lenders and loan programs. Mortgage brokers can also help with underwriting and closing. That’s why, if you need a loan, you should consider whether you want to work with a mortgage broker like Austin First Mortgage. Austin First Mortgage is so confident that they can find you the best price that they’re willing to pay $200 to anyone who comes to them with a same-day loan estimate and final closing disclosure that they can’t beat by at least $200. (They do specify that not all loans qualify for this deal, such as construction loans.) If you’re looking to get pre-approved on a loan, Austin First Mortgage can help. They work on pre-approvals seven days a week, meaning you can expect a fast response. Their team has more than 40 years of lending experience combined, and most of their new business comes from referrals. Austin First Mortgage provides services in Texas, Maryland and California. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Banco Popular de Puerto Rico URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/banco-popular-de-puerto-rico - Type: lender review - Provider: Banco Popular - Rating: 1.7/5 - Website: http://www.popular.com/en/ Content excerpt: About Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, also known as Popular Community Bank, was founded in 1893 and is a subsidiary of Popular, Inc. It has $28,500 million in assets, making it the leading banking institution in Puerto Rico. In terms of assets, it’s among the largest 50 banks in the U.S. In Puerto Rico, Banco Popular has 177 branches and 646 ATMs, in addition to a 24/7 call center and online banking. Banco Popular also has 50 branches throughout New York, New Jersey and Florida, and has approximately 55,000 ATMs worldwide. Banco Popular does business with more than 1.5 million customers. When Doral Bank closed in 2015, Banco Popular was the assuming institution, acquiring all of its deposit accounts. Banco Popular then made separate agreements with FirstBank Puerto Rico and Centennial Bank to transfer deposits and assets to them. Banco Popular offers checking accounts, savings accounts, IRAs and CDs, as well as loans and insurance. It also offers a wide variety of credit card options. Banco Popular’s website has both an English version and a Spanish one, allowing it to cater to a wider audience. How does Banco Popular compare to other banks? Use RateZip to find out! This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Bank of America: Today's Mortgage Rates, CD Rates, Reviews & More URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/bank-america - Type: lender review - Provider: Bank of America (BofA) - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.bankofamerica.com/ Content excerpt: About Bank of America is one of the largest banks in the United States, with nearly $2.2 trillion in assets. It’s found in all 50 states, as well as more than 35 countries, and serves about 47 million customers through 4,700 retail financial centers and approximately 16,000 ATMs. With its size and well-known brand name, you know you will usually be able to find an ATM and that you'll have access to sophisticated online banking and customer support. However, if you choose Bank of America, you will also forgo the committed, local focus of a community bank or the specialized expertise of a mortgage banker. Read on for an explanation of the pros and cons of working with Bank of America, along with reviews and ratings. You can also compare Bank of America's interest rates to other banks both locally and nationally using our comparison tool. Bank of America has a rich history, dating back 200 years, although it’s only been known under that name since 1998, when NationsBank acquired BankAmerica and renamed itself Bank of America. The company currently trades on the NYSE under the symbol BAC. Bank of America, or “BofA,” is one of the “big four” in American banking and largely competes with its three rivals, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Citibank. The company has come under a great deal of scrutiny over the past decade, particularly for its acquisition of Countrywide Financial, … ## Bank of Hawaii: Today's Mortgage Rates, CD Rates, Reviews, Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/bank-hawaii - Type: lender review - Provider: Bank of Hawaii - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://www.boh.com/personal/ Content excerpt: About A subsidiary of Bank of Hawaii Corporation (NYSE: BOH), the Bank of Hawaii provides regional banking services to consumers, governments and businesses in Hawaii, Guam, and a few of the other islands in the Pacific. The bank is informally known as Bankoh, and its roots trace all the way back to 1893, making it the second oldest bank in Hawaii. Bank of Hawaii is the state's largest locally own bank, and it also has the most customers, branches, and ATMs of any of Hawaii's banks. Bank of Hawaii offers its customers retail & commercial banking, along with investment services and treasury / other. Within its retail banking division, BOH offers consumer finance products such as mortgage loans, home equity loans, certificates of deposit (CDs), car loans and savings / checking accounts. The Bank of Hawaii also offers its customers extensive access to their accounts via online banking and mobile applications. In both 2009 and 2010, Forbes Magazine voted Bank of Hawaii as the “Best Bank in America.” As a regional bank, BOH also has deep ties to Hawaii and the Pacific Islands, giving it a relationship with its customers that is difficult for a bigger bank to match. For example, in 2010 the Bank of Hawaii donated a total of $1 million to local charities and nonprofits. Add in BOH's 65 Hawaiian branches, 11 additional Pacific Island branches, and almost 500 ATMs, … ## Axos Bank URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/bank-internet-usa - Type: lender review - Provider: Axos Bank - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.bankofinternet.com/ Content excerpt: About If you’re considering using an internet bank, you’ll want to look at Axos Bank. This completely online bank is recognized as America’s oldest internet bank, as it was founded in 1999. Axos Bank allows you to always have access to your checking and savings accounts, no matter what time it is or where you are. You can create an account online by providing information such as your social security number and your contact information. Axos Bank has approximately $8.2 billion in assets. Being a completely online bank, it does not have any physical locations. However, its headquarters are in San Diego, CA. You may be wondering how safe internet banking really is. Axos Bank promises to protect its customers, saying that 100% of losses due to unlikely break ins or funds that are misplaced or withdrawn from your account without authorization will be covered. Axos Bank is also FDIC-insured, which basically is another way of saying that your money is insured in case something happens to it. Axos Bank is one of the lenders associated with Costco’s mortgage service, meaning that you can use Costco to compare loan offers from Axos Bank with other lenders. Axos Bank was formerly known as Bank of Internet USA. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Bank of the West - Home Mortgage Loan Rates, CD Rates & Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/bank-west - Type: lender review - Provider: Bank of the West - Rating: 2/5 - Website: https://www.bankofthewest.com/ Content excerpt: About Bank of the West, a subsidiary of BNP Paribas (Euronext: BNP, OTCQX: BNPQY)), is a bank headquartered in San Francisco, California. As of this writing, the bank has over $60 billion in assets and more than 700 banking branch locations in a 19 state footprint that covers American Midwest, West Coast, Southwest, and Rock Mountain regions. Bank of the West is a full service financial institution, with offerings ranging from certificates of deposit (CDs) to auto loans to home loan rates. Bank of the West's history dates back to 1974 with the founding of Farmers National Gold Bank in San Jose, California. In 1979, the bank became Bank of the West, and in 1980 BNP Paribas, which owned the French Bank of California, purchased Bank of the West, merging the two banks and keeping the latter's name. Recent acquisitions of note include United California Bank and Commercial Federal Bank of Omaha. Today's Bank of the West's holding company, Bancwest Corporation, is the 31st largest financial institution in the United States. With a big bank like Bank of the West, you know what you're getting - convenient branch locations, a big network of ATM machines, a well-designed online and mobile banking platform, and a full suite of financial products. Whether you're looking for a CD, a traditional savings or checking account, or a money market account, Bank of the West has you covered. … ## Banner Bank URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/banner-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Banner Bank - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.bannerbank.com/ Content excerpt: About Banner Bank, founded in 1890, offers loans, credit, and banking solutions to the northwestern United States. They have 31 locations in California, 15 in Idaho, 51 in Oregon and 97 in Washington State. As of July of 2019, they have over $11 billion in assets. Customers of Banner Bank can enjoy a wide variety of financial products. Their checking accounts range from Connected Checking®, which has no service charge, to Banner’s Best Checking, which has a service charge but earns tiered interest and $0.05 in rewards on every debit card purchase transaction. Banner also has Money Market accounts, Savings accounts, CDs, and IRAs. Looking for a loan? Banner offers credit cards, home loans, personal loans, vehicle loans, student loans, and more! Banner Bank understands the importance of community; not only do they provide great financial products to their community, but they also give back to charity! Banner Bank donated almost $2.5 million to organizations in local communities in 2017. Banner’s employees also volunteered for community service for over 23,500 hours in 2017 and 24,100 hours in 2018! Since its founding in 1890 as a thrift, Banner Bank has grown, adapted and changed, all the while holding onto its values. It continues to grow and change today, with a variety of mergers, sales, and acquisitions. In July of 2019, … ## BBMC Mortgage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/bbmc-mortgage - Type: lender review - Provider: BBMC Mortgage - Website: https://www.mybbmc.com/ Content excerpt: About BBMC Mortgage was a division of Bridgeview Bank Group and a lender in all 50 states. They offered Conventional loans, USDA loans, and Reverse Mortgages, as well as VA Loans. In fact, BBMC Mortgage put a special emphasis on veterans and giving back to the community. For each qualifying loan that closed with them, they donated $150. Since January of 2015, they have donated over $2 million to veterans and active duty charters. Not only has BBMC Mortgage donated money to veterans and active duty charters, but in 2016 and 2017 they also held a sweepstakes for the households of veterans and active service members. In 2017, four lucky households had all their mortgage payments paid for a year. Bridgeview Bank was founded in 1971, and BBMC Mortgage was its lending division. In 2018, BBMC Mortgage and its assets were sold to Mutual of Omaha Mortgage. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## BB&T Bank: Today's Home Mortgage Rates, CD Rates, Reviews, Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/bbt - Type: lender review - Provider: BB&T Bank - Rating: 3/5 - Website: http://www.bbt.com/ Content excerpt: About BB&T Bank (Branch, Banking & Trust), a subsidiary of BB&T Corporation (NYSE: BBT), is one of the largest banks in the United States. With over $227 billion in assets, BB&T is one of the largest American banks. Headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the bank operates around 1,900 banking branches in 15 states and Washington D.C. BB&T offers home mortgage loans, automobile loans, certificates of deposit (CDs), savings accounts, and other personal banking products. BB&T's history begins in 1872, with the founding of Branch and Hadley, named after its founders Alpheus Branch and Thomas Jefferson Hadley. In 1913, the company became Branch Banking & Trust Company, or BB&T. The bank has been part of numerous mergers & acquisitions over the years, including deals with Southern National Bank and Colonial Bank of Alabama. Today, BB&T Bank operates in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia, along with the District of Columbia. BB&T offers competitive CD rates, an array of traditional checking and savings account options, and various other banking products. Its CDs have colorful names such as Can't Lose and Stepped Rate, with each option serving a slightly different purpose. The bank also originates auto loans, home equity loans, and mortgages. … ## bemortgage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/bemortgage - Type: lender review - Provider: bemortgage - Website: https://www.bemortgage.com/ Content excerpt: About bemortgage, a new division of Bridgeview Bank Group, lists six easy steps from application to closure. These are (1) application, (2) documentation, (3) underwriting, (4) conditional approval, (5) final underwriting, and (6) close. It sounds simple, and their mortgage bankers are there to help make sure it is! The employees at bemortgage have over 100 years of experience combined. bemortgage has closed over $1 billion in loans for more than 1,000 customers. BBMC Mortgage is another division of Bridgeview Bank Group. BBMC Mortgage does business as LenderCity. bemortgage was the subject of a lawsuit from Guaranteed Rate in 2017, which alleged that bemortgage solicited several Guaranteed Rate employees. In September of 2017, a judge dismissed the claim. In 2019, bemortgage was acquired by CrossCountry Mortgage. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Beneficial Bank - Home Mortgage & CD Rates, Reviews, Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/beneficial-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Beneficial Bank - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.thebeneficial.com/ Content excerpt: About Beneficial was a regional bank dedicated to serving Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley, and it was known for financial reliability and security. The bank dated back to 1853 and had a rich history; in fact, Beneficial Bank's website boasted that its history is “as rich as the history of Philadelphia itself.” The bank began as an institution dedicated to serving the working class of Philadelphia, and it has evolved into a sophisticated, full-service financial institution. Beneficial was both the oldest and largest bank headquartered in Philadelphia until its acquisition by WSFS in 2019. Beneficial Bank had around $5 billion in assets and maintained over 60 branches in the Delaware Valley. Beneficial's main consumer offerings were broken into two categories. The first category, Personal Banking, covered standard, everyday financial accounts. These included, checking accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs) and IRAs, money market accounts, and even foreign currency services for those traveling abroad. Additionally, Beneficial Bank, which never originated the toxic subprime loans that caused our most recent financial meltdown, offered numerous home financing options to homeowners in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. This included traditional home mortgage loans and refinance options, home equity loans, and home equity lines of credit. … ## Berkshire Bank URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/berkshire-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Berkshire Bank - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://www.berkshirebank.com/ Content excerpt: About Berkshire Bank, known as “America’s Most Exciting Bank,” was founded almost 170 years ago, in 1846. Berkshire has a strong New England presence, with 97 branches located in New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Berkshire Bank has a national presence as well; they offer mortgages and commercial lending services to targeted national markets. In 2017, Berkshire announced it would be acquiring Commerce Bancshares. This merger is expected to increase Berkshire’s assets from $9.3 billion to $12 billion. Because of the merger, which includes three Commerce branches in Boston, Berkshire Bank will change its headquarters to Boston. This will make it the largest regional bank with Boston headquarters. In addition to acquiring Commerce’s assets and branches, two of Commerce’s board members will join Berkshire’s board, and key senior executives will remain with and serve as advisors to Berkshire. If you’re looking for ease and convenience, Berkshire Bank may be the way to go. Their mobile app allows users to deposit checks to their bank account simply by submitting a photo of the front and back of the check. Berkshire Bank offers both personal and business checking and savings accounts, as well as debit, business credit, and ATM cards. Berkshire Bank also offers loans, insurance, investing services and wealth management services. … ## Better URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/better-mortgage - Type: lender review - Provider: Better - Rating: 4.3/5 - Website: https://better.com/ Content excerpt: Summary • Top-rated lender with no fees and no commissions. • Pre-approval takes as little as 3 minutes. • 100% online, with phone support when you need it. • On-demand rate lock. View Better Rates > Pros: No origination fees or commissions Online mortgage application and portal On-demand rate lock Better Price Guarantee Cons: Location (not available nationwide) Limited product offerings When you’re looking for a mortgage, you don’t want just any old house loan. You want a mortgage that is better! Better for your wallet, and better for you. That’s why you should consider Better. Better is a direct lender that has reworked the mortgage process in order to find the best possible savings for the borrower. They don’t have any origination fees or commissions, which means that their loan originators are focused on finding the mortgage that’s right for you, and not just making another sale. No origination fees also means less money you’ll have to spend! Better allows you to apply for a mortgage online, so you can do it whenever it fits your schedule. And, you can get a loan estimate in just a few seconds! Their online portal keeps you in the loop and lets you know exactly what is going on with your mortgage application. After providing income and financial information as well as property information, Better performs a soft credit pull (this doesn’t affect your credit score). … ## BMO Harris Bank Today's Home Mortgage & CD Rates, Reviews, Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/bmo-harris-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: BMO Harris Bank - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.bmoharris.com/us Content excerpt: About BMO Harris Bank, a subsidiary of BMO Financial Group (NYSE, TSX: BMO), is a bank headquartered in Chicago that primarily serves the Midwestern United States and Arizona & Florida. BMO Harris's parent company, BMO Financial (also known as the Bank of Montreal) is the is the 26th largest financial institution in the United States with over $110 billion in assets; the bank itself is the 16th largest US commercial bank. BMO Harris Bank offers mortgage loans, CDs, savings accounts, auto loans, and other financial institutions to consumers in eight states. The history of BMO Harris dates back to 1882, when Norman Wait Harris created a bond brokerage called NW Harris & Co. in Chicago. Harris Trust & Savings was formed in 1907, which became Harris Bankcorp in 1972 after a merger with Chicago National Bank. The Bank of Montreal purchased Harris Bankcorp in 1984. Harris has grown through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions, which include State Bank of St. Charles, and Villa Park Trust and Savings Bank. In 2005, Harris Trust and Savings Bank became BMO Harris. Today, the bank operates 600 banking branches and nearly 1,300 ATMs in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida. BMO Harris provides the communities that it serves with a full sampling of financial products. On the personal banking side, … ## California First National Bank Current CD Rates, Savings & Reviews URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/calfirst-california-first-national-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: CalFirst Bank - Rating: 4/5 - Website: http://www.calfirst.com/ Content excerpt: About California First National Bank, often referred to as CalFirst or Cal First Bank, is an FDIC insured bank owned by California First National Bancorp (NASDAQ: CFNB). CFNB has been in business since 1977. California First offers a full line of personal and business banking products including CDs, savings accounts, Interest checking, and more, all with nationally competitive interest rates. California First National Bank is not your traditional brick and mortar, branch banking financial institution. Instead, Cal First has focused on providing everything that its customers need primarily over the phone and internet. Although you won't be able to stop into a local branch, you'll be able manage your money with your computer or mobile device. CalFirst Bank offers a full suite of financial products. This includes high yield savings and CDs, money market checking accounts, regular checking accounts, online bill pay, and more. Compare rates with our network of top lenders to see if California First National Bank CD rates and more beat the competition! This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Caliber Home Loans URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/caliber-home-loans - Type: lender review - Provider: Caliber Home Loans - Rating: 3.5/5 - Website: https://caliberhomeloans.com/ Content excerpt: About Caliber Home Loans is a mortgage lender with a unique array of loans and programs. They offer conventional loans, jumbo loans (for up to $2.5 million), and jumbo interest-only arms. They also offer loans such as a Relief Refinance, a HomeStyle Renovation loan, and others. Caliber Home Loans also offers government loans, including VA and USDA Loans. With such a wide variety of products, its important to compare and choose the one that’s right for you. Caliber Home Loans started in 2008 when its parent company, Lone Star Funds, rebranded its origination assets. Since then, the lender has grown considerably, acquiring First Priority Financial in 2016 and Banc Home Loans in 2017. They have more than 3,500 employees, and have closed over 10,000 VA purchase loans. Caliber Home Loans is based in Texas, but serve borrowers nationwide. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## California Bank & Trust Today's Mortgage Rates, CDs & Reviews URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/california-bank-trust - Type: lender review - Provider: California Bank & Trust - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.calbanktrust.com/ Content excerpt: About California Bank & Trust (CB&T), a subsidiary of Zions Bancorporation (NASDAQ: ZION), is one of the largest banks in California with more than $10 billion in assets, and a vast branch network throughout CA. CB&T has won numerous awards, including being named San Diego's Best Bank by the San Diego Union-Tribune. The bank offers competitive mortgage rates, high-yield savings and CDs, auto loans, and more. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, California Bank and Trust is the result of a conglomeration of several banks. It was formed in 1998 when Zions Bancorporation, Sumitomo Bank, Grossmont Bank and First Pacific National Bank merged. Later aquisitions included Regency Bank in 1999 and Eldorado Bank and Antelope Valley Bank, in 2001. CB&T also acquired Alliance Bank and Vineyard Bank with help from Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) when those banks failed. Today, the bank operates over 100 branches, employees almost 1,700 people, and is part of the STAR System, MasterCard, VISA/PLUSTM, AMEX and Discover ATM networks. California Bank & Trust offers a full suite of financial products to consumers. On the personal banking side, this includes checking accounts, savings accounts - IRAs, certificates of deposit (CDs) - and wealth management, also available via online and mobile banking. CB&T also offers auto, RV, and personal loans, home equity loans and HELOCs, … ## Capital One: Current Rates for CDs, Credit Cards and Savings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/captial-one - Type: lender review - Provider: Capital One Bank - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://www.capitalone.com/ Content excerpt: About Capital One was established in 1995. It quickly became a major player in the financial services industry, and it's now one of the most popular banking service providers in the United States. It has operations not only in the US but also in Canada and the UK. Capital One offers a full array of products to consumers including zero interest credit cards, auto finance, savings and CD accounts. While they used to offer mortgage loans, they stopped offering them in 2017. Capital One's credit cards in particular have gained in popularity over the years. The bank offers a variety of credit cards to cater to the consumers’ needs, and Capital One markets the cards through interesting, humorous commercials. You may remember seeing one with Alec Baldwin over the past few years. Some of Capital One's offerings include competitive rate cards, rewards cards, prepaid cards, secured cards, student cards, and several co-branded cards. In 2012 Capital One acquired ING Direct and has rebranded this business line to Capital One 360. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## CapWest URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/capwest - Type: lender review - Provider: CapWest - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.gocapwest.com/ Content excerpt: About CapWest Home Loans is an online division of HomeBridge Financial Services. HomeBridge has branches in 35 states and is licensed to originate loans in 49 states. CapWest is licensed in 48 states, but not in New York or Utah. If you want to apply for a loan, CapWest has a handy loan application checklist that you can use to make sure you have all of your documents in order. Knowing what you’ll need to apply and getting it ready now can save you a lot of headache and hassle during the application process. CapWest also allows you to have your quotes emailed to you, which is great for those with busy schedules. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Cash Call Mortgage: Lender Reviews, Ratings, Complaints, BBB Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/cash-call-mortgage - Type: lender review - Provider: Cash Call Mortgage - Rating: 4/5 - Website: http://www.cashcallmortgage.com/index.aspx Content excerpt: About Cash Call Mortgage is a mortgage company based in Anaheim, CA. As of 2013, the company is licensed in 41 states and Washington, D.C. If you're a borrower in the United States, the chances are high that you can work with Cash Call. Cash Call offers discounted mortgage and refinance loans to consumers, and offers some lucrative deals on mortgage products that include fixed rate mortgages and jumbo loans. Cash Call Mortgage offers regular fixed rate mortgages for 10, 15, and 30 year terms and offers an "American Dream Special" to help borrowers achieve the American dream of homeownership. Cash Call Mortgage also offers jumbo loans for 15 to 30 year terms, and welcomes customer application via online and phone. Consumers can enjoy online services offered by the lender only in selected states. The bank also offers some “no closing costs” loans, especially for mortgage loan borrowers. Cash Call’s latest deals include some excellent loan specials on fixed rate mortgages. Since Cash Call Mortgage primarily lends via the Internet - unless you're in California, you can't just walk into a local branch - we strongly recommend that you do you homework before settling on Cash Call. This means reading reviews, seeing if other borrowers have any complaints, and comparing Cash Call mortgage rates against the competition. Luckily, you can do all of this at RateZip. … ## CF Bank URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/cf-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: CF Bank - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://www.cfbankonline.com/ Content excerpt: About If you live in Ohio, you may already be familiar with CF Bank. With offices in Columbus, Cleveland, Akron, Cincinnati, and Columbiana Counties, and headquarters in Worthington, CF Bank is well established in the Ohio community. Founded in 1892, CF Bank used to be a Savings and Loan Association. However, they recently converted to a National Bank. This basically means that they’re expanding their horizons to become available to a larger area, and also that they now offer lines of credit and credit cards. CF Bank allows online access to your accounts 24 hours a day. If online banking is important to you, make sure to choose a bank that offers it! Compare CF Bank with other banks located in Ohio on RateZip! This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Charter Bank / Washington Federal: Today's Mortgage Rates, CD Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/charter-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Charter Bank, now Washington Federal - Website: http://www.washingtonfederal.com/ Content excerpt: About Charter Bank, headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico, served the banking, mortgage and insurance interests of its clients in the New Mexico area. Charter offered strong rates and service on products such as CDs, auto loans, and mortgages. In January 2010, Charter Bank failed and was seized, and its $1.2 billion in assets, $850 million in deposits, and eight branches were sold to Beal Financial Corporation with help from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). On June 8, 2011, Beal Financial sold Charter Bank to Washington Federal Bank of Seattle, Washington. Though consumers in New Mexico lost a community bank, Washington Federal continues to serve the Santa Fe community with a wide variety of financial products. These include savings and checking accounts, IRAs, and certificates of deposit (CDs). Additionally, Washington Federal is a mortgage lender. See how Washington Federal interest rates stack up to the competition on RateZip! This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Chase Bank: Today's Mortgage Rates, CD Rates, Reviews & Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/chase - Type: lender review - Provider: JPMorgan Chase Bank - Rating: 2.4/5 - Website: https://www.chase.com/ Content excerpt: About JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) is one of the largest and oldest banks in the world. It is based in Manhattan, and has leading business units in investments, financial services, asset management and private equity. As of early 2019, Chase has assets of 2.6 trillion US dollars, making it the largest bank in the United States, ahead of its "Big Four Banks" competitors: Bank of America, Citigroup and Wells Fargo. Though the bank and its president/CEO Jamie Dimon have come under increased scrutiny over the past few years, JPMorgan Chase continues to dominate the global consumer banking industry. Chase is one of the world's most recognizable brands. Its many diverse products include credit card services, mortgage loans, and retail and online banking products. It also has QuickPay, CDs, car loans, savings accounts, and other consumer finance products. Chase Home Mortgage offers diverse residential mortgage products such as 30 year fixed, 15 year fixed, 5/1 ARM, and VA Loans. Over the past few years, Chase's mortgage division has consistently been among the top originators in the United States. One of the biggest advantages that Chase Bank offers to consumers is its nearly unmatched convenience. As of this writing, Chase operates over 5000 branches and more than 16,000 ATM locations across America. Additionally, … ## CitiBank: CitiMortgage Home Loan Rates, CD Rates, Reviews & More URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/citibank - Type: lender review - Provider: CitiBank & CitiMortgage - Rating: 3.5/5 - Website: https://online.citibank.com/US/Welcome.c Content excerpt: About Citibank was founded in 1812 in New York City, and it is currently Citigroup's consumer banking division. As of this writing, Citigroup/Citibank the 3rd largest bank in the United States, trailing only JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America with about $1.8 trillion in assets. Citi is one of the "Big Four" American banks along with Chase, BofA, and Wells Fargo. Citibank's reputation took a bit of a hit during 2008's financial crisis, but the bank has fully repaid its loans from the United States government and continues to be one of the leading banks in the world. Citibank has an enormous presence in the United States and overseas. Within the US, Citi maintains over 1,000 branches and more than 65,000 ATMs, including ATMs located inside of participating 7-Elevens. Every branch offers 24-hour access to an ATM and free teller service during business hours. Truly a global bank, Citibank maintains a presence in over 160 countries, with 4,000 overseas branches. It seems fair to say that Citi is the bank of choice for the international traveler. In terms of selection, you can find almost any financial product through Citibank. CitiMortgage, the bank's home loan division, offers mortgages, home equity loans, and home equity lines of credit. Citi is consistently one of the nations largest lenders, and in Q1 of 2013 it was the fourth largest home loan servicer. … ## Citizens Bank Today's Home Mortgage Loan Rates, CD Rates & Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/citizens-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Citizens Bank - Rating: 3/5 - Website: http://www.citizensbank.com/ Content excerpt: About Citizens Bank, also known as Citizens Financial Group, Inc., is a subsidiary of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS, NYSE: RBS). With $126 billion in assets, Citizens Bank is the 21st largest financial institution in the United States. The bank's headquarters are in Providence, Rhode Island. Citizens offers competitive mortgage rates, auto loans, certificates of deposit (CDs), traditional savings and checking accounts, and more. Citizens Bank's history dates back to 1828, when the High Street Bank was founded in Providence. The bank became Citizens Savings Bank in 1871, and it began expanding outside of RI in the 1980s. RBS purchased Citizens in 1988. Today, Citizens Bank operates over 1,300 banking branches and more than 3,500 ATMs in 12 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Additionally, Citizens operates branches out of supermarkets such as Giant Eagle and Stop & Shop, along with one Dunkin' Donuts branch. The company operates commercial offices in 30 total states and employees 19,000 people. As a large financial institution, Citizens Bank offers a comprehensive array of financial products in addition to its convenient branch locations. These include checking accounts, savings accounts, CDs, and money market accounts. … ## ClearOne Advantage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/clearone-advantage - Type: lender review - Provider: ClearOne Advantage - Website: https://save.clearoneadvantage.com/debt-relief/?utm_source=cadv&adgroup=d&method=db Content excerpt: About ClearOne Advantage is a debt settlement company that has assisted over 200,000 people. On its website, consumers can receive a free savings estimate. With over 200 certified Debt Specialists, ClearOne Advantage can help you get a personalized plan to handle your debt. ClearOne Advantage outlines an easy, four-step process for their customers. First, explain your situation and debts to one of their debt specialists. Then they’ll work with you to develop a savings plan that will work with your budget. Next, you enroll with them and ClearOne Advantage will begin working on your debt. And finally, you can monitor your account through ClearOne Advantage’s online Client Portal. ClearOne Advantage summarizes four different ways that your debt can be resolved. The first is Debt Settlement, where a ClearOne Advantage specialist negotiates your debt with the creditors. Generally, Debt settlement is cheap, effective, and fast, but it can lower your credit score. The next option is Credit Counseling, where you establish a payment plan as well as negotiate lower rates. In some cases, however, Credit Counseling may not be able to lower your debt. The third option is a Debt Consolidation Loan, such as a cash-out refinance, which is useful if you want to transfer many separate unresolved debts to a new, single debt. … ## Cohen Financial Group URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/cohen-financial-group - Type: lender review - Provider: Cohen Financial Group - Rating: 3/5 - Website: http://cohenfinancialgroup.com/ Content excerpt: About Cohen Financial Group is home to some of the top loan originators in the country. Their success is shown in the numbers; in 2014 alone, Cohen Financial Group’s top originator closed 671 loans, a volume of almost $650,000,000! In the almost twenty years since their founding, they’ve funded more than 10 billion and closed on more than 18,000 loans. With Cohen Financial Group, it takes an average of only 28 days to close. Interested borrowers can fill out an application online, no matter the time of day. They even welcome non-traditional borrowers, who may have trouble finding financing elsewhere. With connections to many mortgage lenders and their own funding sources, Cohen Financial Group strives to provide the loan that’s best for their clients. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Comerica Bank: Today's Mortgage & CD Rates, Reviews & Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/comerica-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Comerica Bank - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.comerica.com/Pages/default.aspx Content excerpt: About Comerica Bank (NYSE: CMA) was founded in 1849 as the Detroit Savings Bank in Detroit, Michigan. It was one of the few banks in the Detroit area to make it through the Great Depression, and the company grew over the years, both organically and through mergers and acquisitions. The Detroit Savings Bank become the Detroit Bank in 1936, then the Detroit Bank & Trust in the 1950s, and finally Comerica Bank in 1982. Comerica still maintains a strong presence in Detroit - the Detroit Tigers play in Comerica Park, in fact - but in the last 2000s the company relocated its headquarters to Dallas, Texas. As of this writing, Comerica Bank is the 35th largest bank in the United States with around $65 billion in assets. The bank primarily operates in Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan, and Texas, although it does have business units that operate out of other states and internationally in Canada and Mexico. Comerica Bank breaks its offerings into three distinct categories - Personal, Business, and Wealth Management. Since RateZip is mostly focused on consumer rates, we will mainly cover Comerica's "Personal" offerings, which appeal more to individual consumers, instead of Business and Wealth Management which appeal to corporations or individuals who need banking services above and beyond conventional banking products. First and foremost, … ## Commerce Bank / TD Bank: Today's Mortgage Rates, CD Rates, Reviews URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/commerce-bancorp - Type: lender review - Provider: Commerce Bank, now TD Bank - Website: http://www.tdbank.com/ Content excerpt: About Commerce Bank, a subsidiary of Commerce Bancorp (formerly NYSE: CBH), was a bank headquartered in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The bank was founded in 1973 and operated a unique & very successful retail model, which fueled the bank's growth; at its peak, the company had nearly $50 billion in assets. Commerce expanded substantially since opening its first store in Marlton, New Jersey in 1973. The Commerce network eventually comprised of nearly 450 convenient stores throughout New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington, DC, Virginia, Maryland & Southeast Florida. In 2007, Toronto-Dominion Bank purchased Commerce for over $8 billion and merged it with its own TD Banknorth, creating TD Bank. Commerce Bank was created in 1973 by restaurant entrepreneur Vernon Hill, who wanted to create a banking experience that matched the convenience of fast food. Commerce became known as "America's Most Convenient Bank" by having a unique and different approach to banking. This included: - Branch banking open seven days a week - FREE personal checking - Convenient online banking - Stock trading at CommerceOnline.com - 1-800-YES-2000, a full-service, 24-hour bank-by-phone system - Mortgage, CDs, HELOCs, auto finance, savings and more with “No Stupid Fees” Commerce Bank developed something of a cult following, … ## Commerce Home Mortgage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/commerce-home-mortgage - Type: lender review - Provider: Commerce Home Mortgage - Rating: 4/5 - Website: http://www.commercehomemortgage.com/ Content excerpt: About Commerce Home Mortgage is a lender headquartered in California. They have had thousands of borrowers come to them to find a mortgage. They offer conventional, fixed rate, and adjustable-rate mortgages, as well as jumbo loans, government loans, reverse mortgages and foreign national loans. Lots of thought often goes into a company’s logo, but Commerce Home Mortgage is one of the few that explains exactly what their logo means. They say that the blue door is a traditional representation of trust, loyalty, security, safety and stability - all qualities that you want to have in your mortgage lender. They also say that it representants an invitation and a hope for potential borrowers to visit and speak with them. While you’ll want to choose a lender based on more than just their logo, the care that Commerce Home Mortgage took with choosing and explaining theirs shows the care they will take with other parts of their business as well. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Commonwealth Mortgage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/commonwealth-mortgage - Type: lender review - Provider: Commonwealth Mortgage - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://www.commonwealthmortgage.com/index.html Content excerpt: About Commonwealth Mortgage is a direct lender headquartered in Massachusetts. They use their own funds to make loans, and the entire loan approval process is done inhouse. In fact, Commonwealth Mortgage only handles mortgages, so you can be sure they have the skills and expertise to find the best mortgage for you. Commonwealth Mortgage is currently licensed to do business in 24 states (CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NC, NH, NJ, OH, PA, RI, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI and WV). Commonwealth Mortgage has a $500 guarantee that they’ll have the best deal for your loan. Interested borrowers have to send them a Loan Estimate and loan application from a competitor, and Commonwealth Mortgage will respond with their offer approximately one business day later. If they can’t match the offer and you meet all of the requirements, you’ll get $500. So it’s a win-win; either you get a great deal on your loan, or you get an extra $500! This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## BBVA Compass Bank: Current Mortgage Loan Rates, CD Rates, Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/compass-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: BBVA - Status: no longer operating since 2021 - business now with PNC Bank - Rating: 4/5 Content excerpt: About BBVA (NYSE: BBVA, MAD: BBVA), formerly known as Compass Bank and then later as BBVA Compass, is one of the largest banks in the United States of America. In fact, the bank's nearly $70 billion in assets ranked 34th in the most recent Federal Reserve Board report. BBVA stands for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), one of the largest banks in Spain. BBVA has its headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama, and most of its nearly 700 branch locations are in states in America's Sunbelt - Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, New Mexico, and Texas. The company has been part of both the Dow Jones Select and the S&P 500. The original Compass Bank was founded in 1964 under the name Central Bank and Trust Company. It later became Central Bank of the South and then Compass Bank in the 1980s. In 2007, the Spanish Bank BBVA bought Compass Bank, forming BBVA Compass. BBVA's history goes back even further, as it was founded in 1857. BBVA is a dominant player in banking in both Spain and Mexico, maintains a strong presence in South America and the US Sunbelt, and maintains a presence in the UK, China, Japan, and other countries. BBVA is broken into three major divisions - commercial banking, retail banking, and wealth management. They offer a full suite of financial products, including checking / savings accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), … ## Consumer Direct Mortgage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/consumer-direct-mortgage - Type: lender review - Provider: Consumer Direct Mortgage - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://cdmtg.com/ Content excerpt: About By filling out a fast and simple form, Consumer Direct Mortgage allows you to compare rates and find out whether or not you’re preapproved! They’re licensed in every state except for Maryland and are a division of FirstBank. FirstBank has $2.9 Billion in assets and was founded 110 years ago. Consumer Direct Mortgage offers both fixed rate and adjustable rate mortgages, as well as options for refinancing, jumbo loans, HARP loans, and VA loans. If you want an easy way to keep an eye on your loan, Consumer Direct Mortgage has an online portal that allows you to see updates from your originator and check your loan status. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## ConsumerDirect URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/consumerdirect - Type: lender review - Provider: ConsumerDirect - Website: https://www.consumerdirect.com/ Content excerpt: About If you’re a bank or creditor and need a better way to connect with your consumers, then you may want to consider ConsumerDirect. Headquartered in California, ConsumerDirect is a company that produces platforms to make the consumer/bank relationship easier than ever. Some of ConsumerDirect’s products include Action Buttons, Smart Credit Reports, Live ID Alerts, and Money Managers. Smart Credit Reports give the user a complete overview of their credit report, helping them to understand their credit history, and make communicating with creditors easy. Live ID Alerts notify users of suspicious activity, such as someone opening a credit card under their name. Money Managers provide summaries of accounts, credit cards, and more. Action Buttons combine all of the above, giving the consumer an easy way to get their questions answered and communicate with banks and creditors. It’s easy to see why working with ConsumerDirect can benefit consumers, but how specifically can it benefit banks or creditors? ConsumerDirect allows a bank or creditor to access the information they need to better serve their customers. They also save companies on phone support and mailing costs by providing an easy way to follow up and provide consumers with information. Founded in 2003, ConsumerDirect has more than 30,000 Action button partners. … ## Contour Mortgage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/contour-mortgage - Type: lender review - Provider: Contour Mortgage - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://www.contourmortgage.com/ Content excerpt: About Contour Mortgage is a mortgage banker, but they can also act as a broker if their customers require. They are found primarily in the eastern part of the United States, but are licensed in 20 different states. They have 12 branch locations, and if you can’t visit one locally, you can chat with them or leave a message on their website. Contour Mortgage offers loans for those looking to purchase, renovate, consolidate debt, refinance, and more! They also offer VA loans for veterans and their spouses, and jumbo loans for those looking to purchase a house worth more than the conforming limit. With so many different loan options, Contour Mortgage may just have the one that’s right for you. Contour Mortgage started in 1993. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Cornerstone Home Lending URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/cornerstone-home-lending - Type: lender review - Provider: Cornerstone Home Lending - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.houseloan.com/ Content excerpt: About Cornerstone Home Lending is a national home lender that has licenses for forty states and more than 100 branch locations. Founded in 1988, they now have over 1,000 employees. The average employee at Cornerstone Home Lending has more than 10 years of experience, and over 10% of their employees have been with them for more than 10 years. At Cornerstone Home Lending, loans are processed, underwrote, and funded in house, which helps loans close more quickly. Cornerstone Home Lending has thousands of repeat clients, proving that their service is so good that people keep on coming back. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## CIMG Residential Mortgage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/corporate-investors-mortgage-group-inc - Type: lender review - Provider: Corporate Investors Mortgage Group - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://www.cimginc.com/index.html Content excerpt: About CIMG Residential Mortgage recently celebrated twenty years since their founding, which was in 1997. The initials in its name come from the bank's former moniker, which was Corporate Investors Mortgage Group, Inc. They serve the state of North Carolina, with one location in the capital city Raleigh and another in the town of Chapel Hill. CIMG is a locally owned mortgage banker. CIMG offers Conventional, VA, and USDA loans. If you’re interested in a Conventional loan, they offer both Fixed Rate and Adjustable Rate Mortgages. They process loans in-house, which gives them more control, and use a lending model that offer more choices and competitive rates to their borrowers. CIMG has a quick online application for interested borrowers. To keep reading about more mortgage bankers, check out RateZip! This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Corus Bank / MB Financial: Today's Mortgage Rates, CD Rates, Reviews URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/corus-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Corus Bank, now MB Financial - Website: http://www.mbfinancial.com/ Content excerpt: About Corus Bank, headquartered in Chicago, was a subsidiary of Corus Bankshares (formerly NASDAQ: CORS), offering consumer and commercial banking products, primarily involving deposits and loans. These products included checking, savings, cds, money market accounts as well as mortgage and commercial loans. The company had a portfolio of commercial real estate loans focused geographically in California and Florida, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Washington, DC and New York City. The bank operates 11 retail branches in the Chicago area. Corus Bank failed during the subprime mortgage crisis, and it was sold to MB Financial Bank with the help of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in 2009. MB Financial, another Chicago based bank, continued on Corus Bank's tradition of serving the Chicagoland community. Former Corus customers could find certificates of deposit, savings accounts, and more at MB Financial. The bank was also a mortgage lender and offers home equity loans. In 2019, MB Financial merged with Fifth Third Bank. Ready to see how Fifth Third Bank's interest rates compare to other banks in Chicago and nation wide? RateZip has you covered. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Countrywide / Bank of America: Today's Mortgage Rates, Refinancing URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/countrywide - Type: lender review - Provider: Countrywide / Bank of America - Website: https://www.bankofamerica.com/home-loans/overview.go Content excerpt: About Countrywide Financial Corporation (formerly NYSE: CFC) was American's largest home mortgage lender. In fact, in 2006, Countrywide originated around 20% of all loans in the United States. It was announced in January 2008 that Bank of America plans to acquire Countrywide for $4.1 billion USD. Countrywide offered fixed, adjustable mortgages as well as home equity loans and lines of credit and was well known as one of the leading subprime lenders in America. Countrywide Financial was originally founded in 1969. Though the company is usually associated with Angelo Mozilo, David Loeb was its co-founder. Countrywide did not take off immediately, but from 1982 to 2003, the company grew by 23,000%. Bank of America purchased Countrywide in 2008, and since then the deal has come to be viewed as a disaster for BofA. In addition to the $4 billion purchase price, Countrywide has cost the bank more than $30 billion more in losses, lawsuit settlements, and more. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Crestico URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/crestico - Type: lender review - Provider: Crestico - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://www.crestico.com/ Content excerpt: About Crestico combines the real estate and mortgage industries by being both a Real Estate Brokerage and a Mortgage Lending Firm. They operate in Los Angeles, California. Crestico has three branches in the Los Angeles area, as well as over fifty realtors and ten loan originators. Whether you want to purchase, sell, or are looking for a mortgage, Crestico may be able to help. On the real estate side of their business, Crestico is dedicated to helping home buyers and sellers. Their market is the Los Angeles area and surrounding cities. Crestico is able to draft purchase agreements, assist with escrow deposits, provide home appraisals and inspections, and do other tasks that generally make a real estate transaction easier. As a mortgage lending firm, Crestico can also help borrowers find a loan. They have over twenty lenders and five hundred loan products for interested clients to choose from. Loans can close in as little as three weeks, and Crestico states on their website that borrowers save an average of $10,000 over the life of their loan. Whether you want to purchase, refinance, want to watch your rate or just learn about mortgages, Crestico’s website can help you out. Crestico was founded in 2008. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## CrossCountry Mortgage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/crosscountry-mortgage - Type: lender review - Provider: CrossCountry Mortgage - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://crosscountrymortgage.com/ Content excerpt: About CrossCountry Mortgage has offices in all fifty states, truly living up to its name. Its roots are in Ohio, however. CrossCountry was established in Cleveland, opened its first branch in Painesville, and is headquartered in Brecksville. It was founded in 2003 as a mortgage broker, but since then they have grown to become Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and Ginnie Mae Approved Seller/Servicer. Interested borrowers can learn about CrossCountry’s purchase, refinance, or home equity programs. For purchase programs, they offer conventional, fixed rate, adjustable rate, VA, USDA, and jumbo loans. If you want to refinance, they offer a variety of refinance options, including a USDA Rural Streamline Refinance or a Jumbo Refinance. And if you have equity in your home that you want to access, you may be interested in a reverse mortgage or home equity line of credit. Using a mortgage lender that has a nationwide presence often means that, no matter where you are, you can easily contact them. Compare CrossCountry Mortgage with other national lenders right here on RateZip! This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## CuraDebt URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/curadebt - Type: lender review - Provider: CuraDebt - Website: https://www.curadebt.com/debtform/?a_=571902fe609c3#step1 Content excerpt: About CuraDebt is a company that provides free debt relief consultations and savings estimates for those trying to get a handle on their debt. Potential clients can see whether or not they qualify for debt relief counseling by filling out a form on CuraDebt’s website. You can get an answer in less than one minute! Even better, their consultations are confidential, safe, and have no obligation. If you have questions about your debt and want to see if there’s anything you can do about it, there’s no harm in asking CuraDebt. CuraDebt does not charge any upfront fees, and if you complete the debt relief program, you can be enrolled with a free credit restoration program. With teams that specialize in both unsecured debts, such as personal loans or credit card debts, and tax debt issues, you know that you’ll be getting the help you need from qualified professionals. The CuraDebt team started assisting clients in 1996. Four years later, they founded CuraDebt in order to provide service to a larger audience nationwide. Since then, they have provided counseling for over 180,000 people. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Discover Bank: Today's Home Mortgage & CD Rates, Reviews, Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/discover-bank-mortgage-rates-cd-rates-savings - Type: lender review - Provider: Discover Bank - Rating: 3.5/5 - Website: https://www.discover.com/online-banking/ Content excerpt: About Discover Bank is part of Discover Financial Services (NYS: DFS) a financial services company which issues the Discover Card and offers other consumer banking products including high yield savings accounts, CDs, home mortgage loans, and student loans. Discover Home Loans, formerly LendingTree Loans, is one of the nation's largest direct to consumer lenders. The company maintains its corporate headquarters in Riverwoods, Illinois. Over the years, Discover has grown from a credit card issuer to a full service financial institution. Discover Financial Services, the parent company of Discover Bank, began as simply the Discover Card, a credit card offered by Sears. The Discover brand name grew steadily over the years, and in 2007 Morgan Stanley, which owned Discover, spun off Discover Financial Services as a fully independent company. Discover has continued its strong growth, aided by acquisitions of Diners Club in 2008 and LendingTree's Home Loan Center in 2012. Discover Bank offers many direct banking products, including popular high yield online savings accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), and money market accounts. Discover does not operate physical branches, so working with Discover Bank is only an option for consumers who are comfortable with all banking being online. However, … ## Ditech: Mortgage Rates, Refinance Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/ditech - Type: lender review - Provider: Ditech - Rating: 2/5 - Website: http://www.ditech.com/status/maintenance.html Content excerpt: About Ditech is a residential mortgage lender based in Fort Washington, PA. The brand was acquired from its former owner Ally Financial in 2013, by Walter Investment Management Co. and was relaunched in June of 2014. Before the 2008 mortgage crisis, Ditech was a well known direct to consumer brand, well know for their television ads, nascar sponsorships and billboards. It is an abbreviation of Direct Technology, and was the home finance arm of General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC). Ally Financial/GMAC owned Ditech closed in 2010. The new Ditech has re-emerged with strong consumer brand recognition. Consumers can reach a Ditech loan officer at 1-800-700-9212. Ditech was an innovator in the subprime mortgage industry, and in the 2000s it became one of the most recognized brands in American mortgage lending. The company created a popular commercial featuring a loan officer complaining about losing “another loan to Ditech.” Later, Ditech offered unique mortgage products, such as the Sleep EZ Loan, which was a fixed rate mortgage offering interest only payments for 10 years, and the Real Life Plan, a method of combining a mortgage, home equity and credit card in order to pay down mortgage principle. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Dollar Savings Direct: Current CD Rates, High Yield Savings, Reviews URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/dollar-savings-direct - Type: lender review - Provider: DollarSavingsDirect.com - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.dollarsavingsdirect.com/DollarSavingsDirectWeb/index.jsp Content excerpt: About DollarSavingsDirect.com, an online division of Emigrant Savings Bank, offers high-yield savings accounts and CDs. Though Dollar Savings Direct offers only a few products, its rates are extremely competitive. As mentioned above, Dollar Savings Direct is an online offering from Emigrant Savings Bank, which is the biggest privately owned savings bank in the US and New York City's oldest savings bank. Emigrant, founded in 1850, is a large bank, with over $14 billion in assets. In addition to DollarSavingsDirect.com, Emigrant operates Emigrant Direct, another online banking platform. Dollar Savings Direct is well known for its interest rates on CDs and savings accounts. However, these rates require a $1,000 minimum deposit. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Doral Bank / Doral Direct Current CD Rates, Savings, Reviews, Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/doral-bank-direct - Type: lender review - Provider: Doral Direct Content excerpt: About Doral Bank, a subsidiary of Doral Financial Corporatio (NYSE: DRL), is a New York-based federally chartered savings bank. In the United States, Doral operates banking branches in New York and Florida, along with a direct online platform known as Doral Direct. Doral is also one of the largest community banks in Puerto Rico. Doral Bank only originates mortgage loans in Puerto Rico, but it has competitive interest rates for certificates of deposit (CDs), savings accounts, money market accounts, and more for consumers in both Puerto Rico and the United States. Doral Bank was created in 1972 in Puerto Rico. Today, the bank has over $6 billion in assets, nearly $2 billion in deposits, and 56 branches split between Puerto Rico (29), Florida (22), and New York. To serve customers in the rest of the United States, the company created Doral Direct, an online direct-to-consumer banking platform. Consumers can open personal banking products such as certificates of deposit (CDs), savings accounts, and more without ever leaving the comfort of their own homes. Doral Bank and Doral Direct were both known for having exceptionally competitive interest rates. In 2015, Doral Bank closed, and Banco Popular de Puerto Rico was the assuming institution. U.S. Doral Bank Locations: New York - 1. 875 3rd Avenue, New York, New York 10022 2. 345 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010 Florida - 1. … ## Dot Federal Credit Union - Mortgage Rates, Home Equity Loans, CDs URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/dot-fcu - Type: lender review - Provider: Transportation Federal Credit Union - Rating: 1/5 - Website: https://www.transfcu.org/ Content excerpt: About Transportation Federal Credit Union was founded in 1939 as the Civil and Aeronautics Federal Credit Union. The name was later ultimately changed to Transportation Federal Credit Union. As the name suggests, the credit union exists to serve those employed in the transportation business, as well as certain other employer groups and their families. Since its beginnings, TFCU has now grown to have over 18,500 members, over $190 million in assets, 3 branches and over 60 employees. TFCU has two branches in Washington D.C. and a third in Massachusetts. However, because TFCU is part of a shared branching network, if you are a member, you can use the branch of any participating credit union to conduct transactions. Similarly, members of other credit unions can use TFCU’s branches. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Dupaco Community Credit Union Current Home Mortgage & CD Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/dupaco-community-credit-union - Type: lender review - Provider: Dupaco Credit Union - Rating: 2.5/5 - Website: http://www.dupaco.com/ Content excerpt: About Dupaco Community Credit Union, headquartered in Dubuque, Iowa, is a credit union federally insured by National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). Dupaco's vision is to be its members’ lifetime financial home. Like all credit unions, Dupaco Community Credit Union is not-for-profit and member owned. You must become a member to use the credit union's services, and membership is available to anyone who lives or works in Dupaco's charter area. Today, the credit union offers CDs, savings accounts, and competitive mortgage rates to its members. Dupaco Credit Union was founded in 1948 by ten employees of the Dubuque Packing Company as a credit union for Dubuque Packing's workers. In 1982, it officially became the Dupaco Credit Union. The credit union has grown steadily over the years, and it now has 12 branch locations, over 67,000 members, deposits of nearly $1 billion, and more than $1.06 billion in assets. Though it is set up differently than a traditional bank, Dupaco Credit Union offers the same financial products that you would find at a place like Bank of America. Whether you're looking for traditional savings & checking, certificates of deposit (CDs), credit cards, money market accounts, or IRAs, Dupaco has you covered. Additionally, the credit union also originates auto loans. Dupaco Credit Union is a mortgage lender, offering 10 (“mini-mortgage”), 15, … ## E-Loan Today's Home Mortgage & CD Rates, Savings, Reviews, Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/e-loan - Type: lender review - Provider: ELoan / Banco Poplar - Website: http://www.eloan.com/ Content excerpt: About E-Loan, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Poplar, Inc (NASDAQ: BPOP), offers personal banking accounts such as certificates of deposit (CDs) and savings accounts. The company, headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois, also helps connect consumers to mortgage lenders, auto loan lenders, credit reporting services, and more. E-Loan's banking products are all FDIC insured through Poplar, Inc. E-Loan was created in 1997 by Chris Larson and Janina Pawlowski with the vision to provide discount mortgage loans to customers over the Internet. Larson and Pawlowski sold the company to Poplar, the parent company of Banco Poplar and Poplar Community Bank, in 2005, and Poplar ended ELoan's mortgage lending division in 2005. So, although E-Loan is best known as a mortgage website, the company is in fact no longer a mortgage lender. Today, ELoan offers competitive CD rates, savings account, and comparison shopping for mortgage and refinancing rates. The company's CDs are available in 3 month, 2 year, and 5 year maturities, and E-Loan's Savings Plus account pays a higher yield than most traditional banks. As for other financial products, E-Loan partners with third party vendors to deliver information to its visitors. The mortgage platform is powered by LendingTree, another comparison shopping website, the credit report platform is powered by Credit Karma, and so forth. … ## Eastern Savings Bank: Today's Mortgage Loan Rates, CD Rates & More URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/eastern-savings-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Eastern Savings Bank - Rating: 3.5/5 - Website: http://www.easternsavingsbank.com/ Content excerpt: About Eastern Savings Bank is a Maryland-based bank established in 1905. This century old bank still retains its fame as a locally operated bank offering strong service and competitive rates to the community; it's consumer base consists of mostly local citizens. Today, Eastern Savings bank offers deposit accounts including CDs and Savings accounts, as well as mortgage loans. The bank has four branches in Maryland, along with two lending offices, one loacted in Hunt Valley, Maryland and the other in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The bank began its life as Eastern Building and Loan Society of Baltimore City. In 1975, Eastern Building merged with Square Permanent Building and Loan and soon became known as Eastern Savings and Loan Association. In 1986, the bank officially became known as Eastern Savings Bank. While there have been many difficult times over the years - the Great Depression, the Savings and Loan Crisis of the 80's, the financial meltdown of 2008 - Eastern Savings Bank has remained strong and continues to serve its community. Eastern Savings offers a variety of commercial and personal services. Some of the loans offered by the bank include fixed and adjustable rate mortgage loans, consumer loans, and home equity loans. To help consumers and serve them in a better way, the bank offers online customer service and telephone banking options. … ## Embrace Home Loans URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/embrace-home-loans - Type: lender review - Provider: Embrace Home Loans - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.embracehomeloans.com/ Content excerpt: About Embrace Home Loans is there for all of your mortgage needs. They have options for those looking to purchase a home as well as those looking to refinance. With over ten thousand customers already helped and an A+ rating from the BBB, they could be the right company to get you the mortgage you need. Embrace Home Loans offers conventional mortgages and FHA mortgages. They also offer refinancing for debt consolidation, lowering interest rate and payments, or getting a cash payment from a cash-out refinance. If you’re considering pursuing a mortgage with Embrace Home Loans, be sure to take a look at their Mortgage Calculator. You can experiment with it to see what your monthly payment might look like with different rates and terms, which can be useful when trying to calculate your budget. Embrace Home Loans was founded in 1983. They employ approximately 800 people, and have mortgage specialists in 46 states. Their headquarters are in Rhode Island, and they have 62 offices in total. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Lending.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/erates-mortgage - Type: lender review - Provider: Lending.com - Rating: 2/5 - Website: http://www.eratesmortgage.com/ Content excerpt: About If you’re looking to purchase or refinance a home, consider Lending.com. Since their founding in 1991, they have expanded from their hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina to 32 different states. In 2017, they funded more than $1 billion in mortgages. If you’re interested in working with Lending.com, you can call them anytime of the day or night. You can also start the loan process by filling out an online application. Lending.com offers a variety of loans, including conventional, VA, and jumbo loans. They can help you get prequalified for a mortgage, and even have specialized information for first time home buyers, for those considering a vacation home and for those considering an investment property. If you’re considering refinancing, Lending.com has a simple four step process: Application, Lock, Process, and Close. eRates Mortgage rebranded as Lending.com. Both are trade names of Finance of America Mortgage LLC, which also does business as Absolute Mortgage, Capital Hill Mortgage, Royal Lending and more. Is Lending.com right for you? Compare other mortgage lenders on RateZip! This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## EverBank Today's Mortgage Loan Interest Rates, CD Rates, & Reviews URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/everbank - Type: lender review - Provider: TIAA Bank - Rating: 3.3/5 - Website: https://www.everbank.com/ Content excerpt: About TIAA Bank is a financial services provider with $938 billion in assets. In the summer of 2017, TIAA acquired EverBank, broadly expanding their own services and clientele. EverBank, headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, was a national online direct banking leader and also operates a number of traditional banking branches. When it was acquired, it held approximately $27.8 billion in banking assets. Everbank Direct, the company's online division, has been distinguished in offering some of the most comprehensive and competitive online banking products over the years, including many unique certificates of deposit (CDs) and high yield savings accounts. EverBank Direct also offers competitive rates on consumer banking products such as home mortgages, reverse mortgages, home equity loans, reverse mortgages, money market accounts and many more products. Everbank offered mortgages via its subsidiary Everhome Mortgage. EverBank's roots date back to the 1960s, though the company that we know today was officially formed in 1994. The company grew steadily, and its acquisitions of NetBank (2007) and Bank of Florida (2010) helped EverBank significantly grow its assets and evolve into the large banking player that we know today. Though the bank operates a number of retail and lending branches, EverBank is still mostly known as an online lender. For example, … ## Excel National Bank Rates: Mortgages, CDs, & Ratings / Reviews URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/excel-national-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: EH Private Bank - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.ehnbank.com/ Content excerpt: About Formally known as Excel National Bank and then later EH National Bank, EH Private Bank is based in Beverly Hills, CA. It is primarily a professional business bank, with a focus on strong, customized service. However, they have also added personal banking options to their repertoire. For those interested in a personal account, EH Private offers Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts, Money Market Accounts, and Certificate of Deposits. With 1.9 million retail and ATM locations, plus mobile and internet banking, customers of EH Private have plenty of options to access and manage their accounts. If you’re looking for a business loan, EH Private has both short-term and long-term loans. They can offer conditional approval just 72 hours after an application has been completed. They also have a variety of business account products, including Business Checking, Business Savings and more! In July of 2020, in order to better protect the bank and their customers, EH Private Bank changed from a .com website and email to a .bank domain. This means that their new website is www.ehprivate.bank. Having a .bank domain allows them to work as a normal website, but adds an additional level of security, as only verified banks are able to register for this domain type, and therefore it's harder for scammers to make fake look-alike websites. … ## Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/fairway-independent-mortgage-corporation - Type: lender review - Provider: Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.fairwayindependentmc.com/ Content excerpt: About Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation offers a variety of loan products to help borrowers looking to purchase, refinance, or tap in to their home’s equity. Some of these products include fixed rate mortgages, adjustable mortgages, jumbo mortgages, and reverse mortgages. They have more than 400 branches across the United States, as well as over 7,000 employees and 3,000 producers, all dedicated to helping the borrower along the mortgage process. And since they are licensed to do business in all 50 states plus Washington D.C., no matter where you live in the US, you may be able to work with them. Minimum Required Down Payment Minimum Required Credit Score Mortgage Loan Products Offered 3% 580 Fixed Rate ARM Jumbo FHA, VA, USDA Renovation Reverse Pros Cons Multiple loan products offered. Rated highly for customer service. Licensed in all 50 states. Mortgage options for those with lower credit scores. Creditool credit score improvement for those with credit scores too low to qualify. Rates aren’t listed on their website. Rates tend to be average. Fairway was founded in 1996 by Steve Jacobson, and the company was named by his colleague and childhood best friend. With a beginning based on friendship, it was almost destined that Fairway would become a helpful place for families to turn to for home loans. They have helped thousands of borrowers find mortgages. … ## Farm Bureau Bank: Home Mortgage & CD Rates, Reviews, Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/farm-bureau-bank-fsb - Type: lender review - Provider: Farm Bureau Bank, FSB - Rating: 3/5 - Website: http://www.farmbureaubank.com/ Content excerpt: About Farm Bureau Bank, a subsidiary of FB BanCorp, is the bank of choice for Farm Bureau members, and it offers great products and service at competitive rates for “folks who want to do their banking without leaving the farm.” With over $600 million in assets, Farm Bureau Bank offers FDIC insured deposit accounts, car and truck loans, residential mortgages, credit cards, and more. The Farm Bureau itself was created in 1919 as a way to represent farm and ranch families. Today, the Bureau has grown into an international organization, although it still represents its members down to the local and county level. The Farm Bureau speaks out on any and all issues that concern farmers. In 1998, FB BanCorp was formed, and in 1999 Farmers Bureau Bank opened. Farm Bureau Bank offers a comprehensive assortment of financial products, from traditional savings and checking accounts to CDs, money market accounts, and IRAs. Additionally, the bank offers auto loans and home mortgages. As a mortgage lender, Farm Bureau offers consumers conventional & jumbo loans, and VA products, and the USDA rural development loan. There are also special options available for refinancing a mortgage, including cash out refinances. Ready to see how Farm Bureau Bank mortgage rates, CD rates, … ## FBC Mortgage, LLC URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/fbc-mortgage-llc - Type: lender review - Provider: FBC Mortgage - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.fbchomeloans.com/ Content excerpt: About FBC Mortgage is a nationwide lender headquartered in Orlando, Florida. They’re licensed in 47 states and have more than 81 branches and 800 employees. FBC has options for borrowers to purchase, refinance, or build. If you’re looking to purchase a new home, FBC offers both fixed rate and adjustable loans, as well as specialty programs such as VA, USDA, interest only and jumbo. If you want to refinance, FBC may be able to help you lower your monthly payments, reduce your loan term or consolidate debt. If you want to build a new house, FBC even offers construction loans. No matter the type of loan you’re looking for, FBC is willing to help. To make things simple in a technologically advanced world, FBC Mortgage offers “Simple Loan.” Simple Loan is an online pre-approval smart application developed by FBC Mortgage. This application allows borrowers to get pre-approved in approximately eight minutes and can help you save time when gathering documents. Simple Loan is offered in English and Spanish, and can be accessed both by a computer or a mobile device. Furthermore, through your Simple Loan portal, you can view any pending mortgage tasks, review loan details, contact your loan officer, and more! FBC Mortgage is the highest rated lender on www.RateYourLender.com. … ## FHA.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/fhaloan-com - Type: lender review - Provider: FHA.com - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.fha.com/ Content excerpt: About FHA.com is a website designed to provide visitors with information regarding FHA loans. It is a private corporation and is not associated with the government or with the Federal Housing Association, nor does it make loans. FHA does, however, allow potential borrowers to view and compare lender offers. Potential borrowers can view offers based on whether they’re interested in a purchase or a refinance, their credit score, their city and state, and the loan product, loan amount, and down payment they would prefer. If you’re interested in learning more about FHA Loans, then FHA.com is there for you. It provides information on FHA programs, guidelines, and more. Want to learn more about different loan programs? Keep on reading on RateZip! This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Fifth Third Bank: Mortgage Rates, CD Rates, Reviews & Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/fifth-third-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: 5/3 Bank - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.53.com/content/fifth-third/en.html Content excerpt: About Fifth Third Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bancorp (NYSE: FITB) is one of the largest banks in the United States. The bank is also known as Fifth Third and 5/3 Bank. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Fifth Third Bank has $141 billion in assets. 5/3 Bank offers competitive mortgage rates, auto loans, CDs, and more. Fifth Third Bank's history began in 1858 with the forming of the Bank of the Ohio Valley. Third National Bank bought the bank in 1871, and in 1908 merged with Fifth National Bank, giving birth to the Fifth Third National Bank of Cincinnati. The bank became Fifth Third in the 1960s. Today, 5/3 Bank operates over 1,100 banking branches and more than 2,400 ATMs in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia, and North Carolina. As one of the leading American financial institutions, Fifth Third Bank offers a full suite of personal banking products for consumers. The bank breaks its offerings into four categories - Bank, Insure, Invest, and Borrow. Under the Bank category, you will find traditional checking and savings accounts, credit cards, debit cards, and CDs. Under Invest, Fifth Third offers annuities, ETFs, and stocks and bonds. Under Insure, you’ll find information about Fifth Third’s insurance products, such as Disability Income Insurance. Finally, the bank is also a lender. … ## Figure URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/figure - Type: lender review - Provider: Figure - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.figure.com/ Content excerpt: About If you’re looking for a company that uses new technology and innovations to help their customers get home equity loans, you’ll want to check out Figure. They have an easy pre-qualification process that does not affect your credit score. You can borrow up to $100,000 with a low origination fee and no appraisal fee, maintenance fees or pre-payment penalties. You just need a credit score of 680 or higher, and you can find your rate in just one click! And another great thing - the amount you borrow can be tax deductible! (You should make sure to speak with a tax advisor about deductibility.) What innovations does Figure use? Both current and potential customers can utilize their Live Chat option to speak with customer service representatives during business hours. Those who would rather communicate a different way can also call or email customer service. Figure also has an eNotary, which allows you to legally sign documents from the comfort on your own home. Figure is also one of the companies that have embraced blockchain, a data network that is incredibly fast and secure. With this and the use of artificial intelligence and analytics, borrowers are able to get home equity loans faster than ever before. Figure currently is licensed in 36 states (AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, LA, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OK, OR, RI, SD, … ## Finance of America URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/finance-of-america-reverse - Type: lender review - Provider: Finance of America Reverse LLC - Website: https://www.far.com/ Content excerpt: About Finance of America offers a range of home equity lending solutions designed to help homeowners, particularly those in or near retirement, access the value in their homes. The company’s flagship proprietary reverse mortgage product, HomeSafe, allows qualified borrowers to access loan amounts of up to $4 million, with minimum age requirements that vary by state-often 55 and older, but in some states the minimum age is 60 or 62. Another option, HomeSafe Second Tap, enables homeowners to tap into their equity while keeping their existing mortgage in place. Finance of America also offers the federally insured Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM), which remains the most widely recognized reverse mortgage product in the United States. As of recent years, Finance of America has funded more than $17 billion in reverse mortgage loans. Its reputation in the industry is reinforced by multiple awards and recognitions. In January 2024, Bankrate named it the Best Reverse Mortgage Lender, and in 2025, Money Magazine included it in its list of Best Reverse Mortgage Companies. The Better Business Bureau currently gives Finance of America an A+ rating, and customer satisfaction scores remain high, with ratings of 4.5 stars on ConsumerAffairs and 4.7 stars on Trustpilot. One of Finance of America’s strengths lies in its customer-focused approach. … ## First Choice Loan Services URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/first-choice-loan-services - Type: lender review - Provider: First Choice - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://fcloans.com/ Content excerpt: About First Choice Loan Services Inc. began in 2009. They have grown to have more than 500 employees (including over 250 Loan Originators) with branches in 6 states. They’re headquartered in New Jersey. First Choice serves borrowers in most of the United States, and to date have served over 200,000 customers. They offer a variety of loan products, including conventional, VA, USDA, and jumbo loans. They also offer renovation loans for those looking to fix up a house. First Choice is a Berkshire Bank Company. Berkshire has $12 million in assets, and works with comparison programs such as Magilla Loans or Costco’s Mortgage Services. First Choice was named one of the top 50 mortgage companies to work for in America by Mortgage Executive Magazine. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## First Internet Bank of Indiana: Mortgage & CD Rates, Reviews URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/first-internet-bank-indiana - Type: lender review - Provider: First Internet Bank of Indiana - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.firstib.com/ Content excerpt: About First Internet Bank of Indiana, also known as First Internet Bank and First IB, is a subsidiary of First Internet Bancorp (NASDAQ: INBK). Although the company's name would seem to imply that First IB is a community bank serving Indiana, this is not the case - First Internet Bank is an online bank focused on serving the entire United States and does not operate brick & mortar banking branches. First Internet Bank of Indiana was created in 1997 by David B. Becker as one of the first direct-banking (Internet only) institutions. The bank has been very successful to date, and it began trading on the NASDAQ in late February of 2013. Without question, First IB's success speaks to the growing comfort that consumers have conducting many or most financial transactions over the Internet. Today, First Internet Bank offers checking and savings accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), IRAs, and various credit cards. The bank is also a mortgage lender in all 50 states and Washington D.C., offering both traditional mortgages and home equity loans. Whether you are looking to purchase a home, purchase a second home or vacation home, or refinance an existing mortgage, First Internet Bank of Indiana may be right for you. Options include 15 and 30 year fixed rate loans, and 5/1 adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs). … ## First Mortgage Solutions URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/first-mortgage-solutions - Type: lender review - Provider: First Mortgage Solutions - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://fmdloans.mymortgage-online.com/ Content excerpt: About First Mortgage Solutions is a mortgage company, and First Mortgage Direct is its online lending division. Their three main principles are honesty, integrity, and experience. When making a decision about a mortgage, those are three values you definitely want in your mortgage lender. First Mortgage Solutions specializes in Refinancing, Purchase Loans, Home Equity, and Debt Consolidation Loans. They do not have any hidden fees, and instead of offering limited time promotions, First Mortgage Solutions focuses on keeping their costs low for borrowers year round. First Mortgage Solutions is a family owned business that started in 2009. Their employees have more than 75 years of experience in the mortgage industry combined. With headquarters located in Missouri, they are also licensed in 17 other states. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## First National Bank of Texas: Home Mortgage Loan Rates & CD Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/first-national-bank-texas - Type: lender review - Provider: First National Bank of Texas / First Convenience Bank - Rating: 2/5 - Website: http://www.1stnb.com/en/ Content excerpt: About First National Bank of Texas (FNBT) and its sister bank, First Convenience Bank (FCB), is a community bank serving Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. The company operates as both FNBT and FCB in Texas, while only the FCB name exists in Arizona and New Mexico. First National Bank of Texas makes convenient banking its top priority by offering expanded branch hours and internet banking solutions. The company's slogan is “Real Hours for Real People.” FNBT offers its customers mortgage loans, CDs, and traditional checking and savings accounts. FNBT's history goes all the way back to 1901, when it was founded in Killeen, Texas, where it still maintains headquarters. In 1997, First National Bank of Texas opened its initial First Convenience Bank location, and in 2011 the company left Texas for the first time as it expanded into Arizona and New Mexico. Today, FNBT and FCB have over 300 branches, over 350 ATMs, and employ more than 3000 people. First Texas National Bank's interest rates are updated weekly on the company website. Here, you can find the latest rates for checking / high yield checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit (CDs). FNBT's CDs are available in 3, 6, 9, and 12 month maturities, along with 2 and 5 year options. The company is also a mortgage lender under the name First Community Mortgage. … ## First Tennessee Bank: Today's Home Mortgage Rates, CD Rates, Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/first-tennessee-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: First Horizon - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.firsttennessee.com/ Content excerpt: About Formerly known as First Tennessee Bank, First Horizon (NYSE: FHN) is a full service community bank headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. Although First Horizon operates in other states, it is headquartered in the state of Tennessee, where it operates 180 branches. The bank, which often calls its branches “financial centers” rather than banks, offers consumers CDs, savings accounts, home mortgage loans, auto loans, and more. First Horizon's history dates all the way back to 1864, when the Fist National Bank of Memphis was founded. Though the bank grew steadily over its first 100 years, it experienced enormous growth during the 13 years that Allen B. Morgan served as president, then CEO, then chairman. By the time he retired, First Horizon had grown from $500 billion in assets to more than $1.5 billion. First Horizon is one of the largest mortgage lenders in the state of Tennessee. The bank offers some mortgage loan products in house, while others are outsourced to Quicken Loans, one of the bank's partners. Interested in seeing how First Horizon mortgage rates, CD rates, and more compare to other top lenders in Tennessee? Find out now! This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Five Star Bank: Mortgage Loan & CD Rates, Reviews & Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/five-star-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Five Star Bank - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.five-starbank.com/ Content excerpt: About Five Star Bank has a legacy that extends back to the 1850's. Wolcott Humphrey is the great grandfather of the current President and CEO, Peter Humphrey founded a community bank in Warsaw, New York, called the Wyoming County Bank. Mr. Humphrey's vision was to focus on local communities and their people, and the bank has never lost this focus. The company has gone through many changes over the years, and is now known as Five Star Bank. Five Star Bank is the result of combining the Wyoming County Bank with Bath National Bank, First Tier Bank & Trust, National Bank of Geneva, and Pavilion State Bank. It however is still being led by the Humphrey Family. The bank has over 2.6 Billion USD in assets, conducts business in 14 counties in Western and Central New York, and employs around 600 people. The bank has nearly 50 branches and around 70 ATMs. At Five Star Bank you can find mortgage loans, high yield savings accounts, home equity loans, CDs and many other competitive banking products. Fulfilling Wolcott Humphrey's vision, Five Star Bank remains heavily involved in the communities that it serves. Five Star supports the United Way, started a volunteer group known as the S.T.A.R. Volunteer Program, and supports many programs geared toward helping young people. It seems safe to say that Mr. Humphrey would be proud of his bank if he could see it today. … ## Franklin American Mortgage Company URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/franklin-american-mortgage-company - Type: lender review - Provider: Franklin American Mortgage Company - Rating: 1/5 - Website: https://www.franklinamerican.com/ Content excerpt: About Franklin American Mortgage Company (FAMC) was founded in 1994. Its headquarters are located in Franklin, TN, and FAMC also has offices in New Jersey, Texas, Pennsylvania, California, and Massachusetts. FAMC serves a nationwide audience, but as of this writing, cannot originate mortgages in Hawaii, Nevada, New York, or Utah. FAMC has three divisions: the Correspondent Lending division, the Wholesale division, and the Retail division. If you’re looking for a mortgage and want to work with FAMC, contact the Retail division. You can call FAMC for no-obligation information, or fill out their easy online form. The Correspondent Lending division is for lenders, and the wholesale division offers services for mortgage brokers. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Freedom Debt Relief URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/freedom-debt-relief - Type: lender review - Provider: Freedom Debt Relief - Website: https://www.freedomdebtrelief.com/dashboard/ Content excerpt: About Freedom Debt Relief (FDR) is a major player in the debt consolidation business. Founded in 2002, FDR has almost 2,000 employees and more than 450,000 clients. They have resolved more than $8 billion in debt, and on average they resolve about 42,417 accounts each month. Keep on reading to learn what makes FDR so successful. If you feel overwhelmed by your debt, or even if you’d just like to find out if there’s a way to save money while paying off your debt, then you may want to contact FDR. With a free evaluation, a certified debt consultant will discuss FDR’s programs and whether or not they may be right for you. And since FDR does not charge any fees until after a settlement has been negotiated, you can feel confident that they’ll work their hardest to find the option that’s best for you. Clients of FDR have a FDIC-insured Dedicated Account that they make monthly deposits to. While you build your account, FDR strategizes and negotiates to find a way to settle your debt while saving you as much money as possible. If you’d like to have an estimate of how much money you could save, FDR has an easy-to-use online Savings Estimator. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Funding Circle URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/funding-circle - Type: lender review - Provider: Funding Circle - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.fundingcircle.com/us/ Content excerpt: About Funding Circle is a lending platform that is changing the way small businesses get financing. They connect small businesses that need financing with investors looking for new opportunities. In fact, as of March 2018, Funding Circle has helped investors lend over $5 billion to over 40,000 small businesses all around the globe, with $1 billion in the US alone! By removing the middleman and helping investors and small businesses connect, Funding Circle has invented a new type of small business loan. Their loans have fixed monthly payments, no pre-payment penalties, and 6-month to 5-year terms, and businesses can borrow as much as $500,000. And there’s no need to wait - through their online application, a small business can check its eligibility in just a few seconds. The complete application takes about 10 minutes, and you could have a credit decision in as fast as 24 hours, and funds as soon as 10 days later. Funding Circle was founded in 2010 and launched in the US in 2013. Their US headquarters are found in San Francisco. This profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the company's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of lending information. ## GE Capital Retail Bank | GE Money | Credit Cards, Consumer Financing URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/ge-money-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: GE Capital Retail Bank - Status: no longer operating since 2014 - business now with Synchrony Bank Content excerpt: About GE Capital Retail Bank, formerly known as GE Money Bank, is the name of General Electric's consumer bank. General Electric Capital is the seventh largest financial institution in the United States with over $500 billion in assets. Formerly called GE Consumer Finance, it rebranded under the name GE Money Bank, and then became GE Capital Retail Bank in 2011. Over the year's the bank has served a variety of purposes, though today it only offers consumers private label credit cards and various financing options. In the past, General Electric's banking arm offered fixed and adjustable rate mortgage loans, home equity loans, student loans, auto loans, and personal line of credit. These programs have since been discontinued. In 2011, GE Capital Retail Bank acquired MetLife's banking division, MetLife Bank. GE Bank was later sold to GS Bank. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Get A Rate URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/get-a-rate - Type: lender review - Provider: Get A - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://getarate.com/ Content excerpt: About Founded in 2012, Get A Rate is a new lender with a new way of doing things. Unlike other lenders, Get A Rate is non-commissioned. Their advisors are paid with a salary, whether or not you decide to pursue a loan application, which means that they’re only working with your best interest in mind. In addition to having salaried advisors, Get A Rate has their entire pre-approval process in-house, which means that you’ll find out whether or not you’re preapproved in as little as a half hour. Their accurate rate quotes and true affordability calculator also help make sure you’re knowledgeable and prepared. Get A Rate is primarily in New Jersey, but is also licensed in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Florida. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## GMAC Bank, now Ally Financial CD Rates, Savings, Reviews, GMAC History URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/gmac - Type: lender review - Provider: GMAC Bank, now Ally - Website: http://www.ally.com/ Content excerpt: About GMAC Bank was a division of GMAC Financial Services, offering CDs and Money Market Accounts. In 2010, GMAC Bank became Ally Financial. The GMAC brand name has a long and storied history; in 1919, General Motors created the General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC) to provide auto loans to American consumers. GMAC Bank was officially formed in 2000. GMAC began originating mortgages in 1985 and was a large player in the subprime mortgage industry during the 2000s. This would eventually lead to massive losses during the subprime mortgage crisis. GMAC received over $10 billion from the US government’s Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) in 2008-2009. The bank became Ally Financial on May 10, 2010. GMAC's mortgage division filed for bankruptcy in 2012, and Ally Financial does not currently originate home loans. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Gold Star Mortgage: Today's Refinance Rates, Reviews URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/gold-star-current-mortgage-interest-rates-refinancing-bbb-ratings-scam-report - Type: lender review - Provider: Gold Star - Rating: 4/5 - Website: http://goldstarfinancial.com/ Content excerpt: About Gold Star Mortgage Financial Group, headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a direct mortgage lender that operates primarily on the Internet. Founded in 2000 by Daniel Milstein, the company has grown rapidly over the years and originates over $1 billion in mortgage loans each year. Gold Star mortgage is well-known for its mortgage rates and customer service. There are a number of benefits to working with a mortgage banker like Gold Star. First, the company specializes in mortgages and offers no other financial products. This means that you are working with experts who may very well possess a far deeper understanding of home loan options than a bank. Second, you are working with a mortgage banker and not a mortgage broker. Gold Star Mortgage controls the process from start to finish, taking your application all the way through closing. If you have any questions about where you are in the process, the mortgage banker will be able to answer. Gold Star Mortgage offers many home loans for consumers to choose from. This includes conventional mortgages, jumbo home loans, fixed and adjustable rate mortgages, VA programs, and USDA Rural Development loans. Whether you're looking for a new mortgage or you're interested in refinancing, Gold Star has you covered. Gold Star is not currently accredited with the Better Business Bureau. However, … ## Golden One Credit Union: Mortgage & CD Rates, Ratings, Reviews URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/golden-one-credit-union - Type: lender review - Provider: Golden 1 Credit Union - Rating: 1/5 - Website: https://www.golden1.com/home/default Content excerpt: About Golden 1 Credit Union is the largest credit union in the state of California and the seventh largest in the United States. Today, the credit union has more than 600,000 members and over $8 billion in assets. Like all credit unions, Golden 1 is not-for-profit and owned by its members. Membership is available to most citizens of California - you must live in one of the 34 participating counties out of about 58 total counties in CA - state employees, and employees of select groups and companies in the state. Golden 1 was originally created as a credit union for California state workers in 1933, and over the years it has been allowed to expand its customer base to take on members who are generally in Northern and Central California counties, not including the Bay Area. Today, in addition to its nearly 600,000 members the credit union has over 80 branches, more than 250 ATMs, and is part of a network of 30,000 ATMs across the US that members can use free of charge. When it comes to consumer loans, credit unions tend to be much more favorable in terms of approval versus big, traditional banks. Part of this difference has to do with the fact that credit unions tend to serve specific local communities and the average person far more, while big chain corporation banks are far more interested in commercial lending and international financing. … ## Goodmortgage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/goodmortgage - Type: lender review - Provider: Goodmortgage - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://www.goodmortgage.com/ Content excerpt: About Goodmortgage is the place “where loans click.” They were founded almost 20 years ago, and are licensed to do business in 27 states, plus D.C. Their headquarters are in Charlotte, NC, and you can even take a virtual tour of their office. Goodmortgage has an A+ Accredited Rating with the BBB. With no hidden fees and a focus on saving their borrower’s time and money, goodmortgage has many well-deserved positive reviews. They also have multiple online calculators and informational posts to answer their consumers’ questions. Some of their calculators include a Rent Vs. Buy Calculator, a Pay Points Calculator, an Affordability Calculator, and more! Tinkering with online calculators is a great way to start planning your budget for your future mortgage. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Greenlight Financial: Mortgage Reviews, BBB Ratings & Complaints URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/greenlight-mortgage - Type: lender review - Provider: Greenlight Financial - Rating: 2.5/5 - Website: https://www.mrcooper.com/ Content excerpt: About Greenlight Loans/Greenlight Financial is a direct lender based in California. It's one of the larger consumer lenders in the nation. The company is licensed across the United States. Greenlight Financial is a division of NationStar Mortgage, LLC. Whether you are looking for a fixed rate or adjustable rate (ARM), a jumbo or conventional mortgage, or a VA product, chances are that Greenlight has you covered. Greenlight maintains a strong online presence, and consumers can use mortgage calculators and compare payments on different home loan options. Borrowers can also contact Greenlight's customer service department with inquiries regarding various mortgage loans. Greenlight Financial accepts applications over the phone and online, making the application process much simpler than that of comparable lenders. According to the company's website, the high levels of automation in its mortgage loan processing helps with the cost of its rates. Processing a home loan is typically expensive and time consuming, especially for larger lenders like Chase or Wells Fargo, so it makes sense that Greenlight can offer more competitive mortgage rates with a more automated system. NationStar Mortgage has changed its name to Mr. Cooper. Ready to refinance your mortgage? Looking to buy a home? See how Mr. … ## GTE Financial Credit Union: Today's Mortgage Rates, Ratings, Reviews URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/gte-financial-credit-union - Type: lender review - Provider: GTE Financial CU - Rating: 2/5 - Website: https://www.gtefinancial.org/ Content excerpt: About GTE Financial Credit Union, headquartered in Tampa, Florida, is a financial institution serving northern Florida since 1935. Today, the credit union has nearly $2 billion in assets and more than 200,000 members, making it the 47th largest American credit union by assets and the 33rd largest by members. Like all credit unions, GTE Financial is member owned and not-for-profit; the financial institution is regulated by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). GTE Financial offers competitive mortgage rates, CDs, auto loans, and more to its members. GTE's history dates back to 1935, when employees of the Peninsular Telephone Company formed the Peninsular Telephone Employees Credit Union. The company GTE, which was later acquired by Verizon, bought Peninsular in 1958, and the credit union became GTE Federal Credit Union. In 2012, GTE rebranded itself to GTE Financial, though it is still a credit union. GTE's mission is “to be the preferred financial services provider and employer in our marketplace.” Membership is available to family members of current credit union members, employees of select companies, and individuals who live in the zip codes that GTE Financial serves. Though GTE Financial is not structured like a traditional bank, it offers the same financial products that you will find at a bank. In fact, … ## Guaranteed Rate URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/guaranteed-rate - Type: lender review - Provider: Guaranteed - Rating: 3.7/5 - Website: https://www.guaranteedrate.com/ Content excerpt: About Guaranteed Rate is a mortgage provider found in all 50 states. Started in 2000, Guaranteed Rate began with only 15 people, but since then has grown to include over 170 branches and 3,000 employees. Will you decide to join the more than 500,000 customers who have used Guaranteed Rate? Keep on reading to learn if Guaranteed Rate is right for you! Guaranteed Rate offers 30 year fixed rate mortgages, 15 year fixed rate mortgages, adjustable rate mortgages, jumbo loans, VA home loans, and interest only mortgages. In 2016 alone, they funded over $23 Billion in home loans. Guaranteed Rate also allows borrowers to have a digital mortgage, which allows you to safely upload and sign documents, and also lets you see your credit scores. Are you a baseball fan? If so, you may recognize Guaranteed Rate from the baseball field named after them. Guaranteed Rate Field is the home of the Chicago White Sox. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Guaranty Bank / BBVA Compass: Today's Interest Rates, Mortgages, CDs URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/guaranty-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Guaranty Bank, now BBVA Compass - Website: http://www.bbvacompass.com/ Content excerpt: About Guaranty Bank was a part of the Texas based Guaranty Financial Group Inc (NYSE: GFG). Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Guaranty offered a full range of banking products to individuals and institutions. At its peak, the bank had $13 billion in assets and $12 billion in deposits. However, Guaranty Bank was a thrift, meaning that it was heavily involved in the mortgage industry. The bank suffered huge losses during the subprime mortgage crisis, and on June 30, 2009, Guaranty failed and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) helped facilitate its sale to BBVA Compass, the US division of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), Spain's 2nd largest bank. Guaranty Bank is the 10th largest bank failure in the history of the United States. Today, BBVA Compass offers former Guaranty Bank customers the same service and high quality financial products that Guaranty once offered. On the personal banking side, this includes certificates of deposit (CDs), savings accounts, and money market accounts. BBVA is also a mortgage lender, offering fixed, adjustable rate, and VA mortgage loans. You can view BBVA mortgage rates on the company's website. Ready to see how BBVA Compass interest rates compare to other lenders in Texas and nationwide? Find out now. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. … ## Hanmi Bank: Today's Home Mortgage Rates, CD Rates, Ratings, Reviews URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/hanmi-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Hanmi Bank - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.hanmi.com/ Content excerpt: About Hanmi Bank, a subsidiary of Hanmi Financial Corporation, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAFC), is a community bank offering a full range of financial services to consumers in California. It was established in 1982 to serve the Korean-American community. It is now the largest Korean-American bank in the United States with nearly $3 billion in assets. Hanmi Bank offers mortgage loans, home equity loans, savings products including certificates of deposit, bonus checking, money market, super plus checking, and many other deposit and loan products. For consumers, Hanmi Bank is essentially broken into two groups, personal banking and loans & lines of credit. Under the personal banking division, you will find many of the products mentioned above - various flavors of checking and savings accounts, CDs, and more. Within loans and lines of credit, you will find home mortgages, home equity lines of credit, auto loans, and credit cards. As a mortgage lender, Hanmi offers fixed-rate mortgages and adjustable rate loans. The bank's HELOC program allows consumers to remove hard-earned equity from their homes. Interested in seeing how Hanmi Bank, America's largest Korean-American bank, stacks up against our network of top lenders? Compare rates now! Hanmi Bank Locations: Los Angeles County - 1. 9300 Wilshire Blvd., Ste #101, Beverly Hills, California 90212 2. 11900 South St., Ste 109, Cerritos, … ## Heritage Federal Credit Union Current Mortgage Rates, Ratings, Review URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/heritage-federal-credit-union - Type: lender review - Provider: Heritage FCU - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.hfcu.info/ Content excerpt: About Heritage Federal Credit Union (HFCU) is a community-chartered credit union headquartered in Newburgh, Indiana. The credit union has seven branches split between Warrick County and Vanderburgh County and currently has over 40,000 members. Hertigage FCU offers competitive interest rates on CDs, mortgage loans, auto loans, and more. Like all credit unions, Heritage is not-for-profit and owned by its members. Heritage FCU was originally founded as the Warrick Employees Federal Credit Union in 1965 to serve employees of ALCOA. In 1983, the credit union became community chartered and opportunities for membership were greatly expanded. To qualify for membership, you must live, work, or attend church or school in either Warrick or Vanderburgh County. Membership is also available to the immediate family of credit union members and those who share a household with someone who qualifies for membership. Though credit unions differ from traditional banks in many ways, HFCU offers the same products that you would at a larger, for-profit institution like Wells Fargo. You can find consumer banking products like certificates of deposit (CDs), traditional savings / checking accounts, and money market accounts at Heritage. The credit union is also a lender, meaning that you can take out a home loan, home equity loan, car loan, or credit card. … ## HomeBridge Financial Services URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/homebridge-financial-services - Type: lender review - Provider: HomeBridge - Rating: 4.5/5 - Website: https://www.homebridge.com/ Content excerpt: About HomeBridge Financial Services is an independent mortgage lender licensed to originate loans in 49 states and with retail branches in 35 states. It offers traditional mortgage products, such as fixed rate and adjustable rate mortgages, but also offers a wide variety of “niche” products, including Interest Only, Construction to Perm, and Energy Efficient Mortgage. The company says that it will soon be among the country’s largest nonbank mortgage lenders, and with 3,000 associates and 250 retail operations, that prediction may soon come true. HomeBridge has two wholesale divisions: REMN Wholesale and HomeBridge Wholesale. REMN Wholesale is located in New Jersey, while HomeBridge Wholesale is in California. Both wholesale divisions offer conventional, Jumbo, USDA and VA loans. On February 2 of 2017, HomeBridge purchased the operating assets of Prospect Mortgage. The purchase resulted in approximately 500 mortgage loan originators, 413 operations and 246 corporate associates transitioning from Prospect to HomeBridge. It was this purchase that pushed HomeBridge among the largest nonbank mortgage lenders and made them a much more noticeable player on the field. In 2016, HomeBridge funded almost $10 billion in home loans, and its servicing portfolio totaled $17 billion as of January 2017. … ## HomePal: Jumbo, Conventional, and VA Loans URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/homepal - Type: lender review - Provider: HomePal - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.homepalmtg.com/ Content excerpt: About HomePal is a mortgage company based in Michigan that offers options for Jumbo, Conventional, FHA, and VA loans. As a local company, you’ll notice a more hands-on, personal touch with HomePal - something that can be missing in the larger national companies. However, if you’re located outside of Michigan, you’ll need to go elsewhere to fulfill your mortgage needs. HomePal has over 10 years of experience and has served more than 1,700 clients. In that time, they have had more than $500 million in loans funded. With free consultations and more than 350 loan programs to choose from, HomePal is sure to find you the top mortgage rates in Michigan! If you’re struggling to come up with the down payment for a home, you’ll be pleased to know that HomePal also offers Down Payment Assistance. There are multiple down payment assistance programs to choose from, and HomePal can help you determine if you qualify for any of these. If you’re ready to learn more about HomePal, you can easily get in touch via phone, email, or online chat! However, if you want to learn more about other lenders, keep on reading and compare mortgage rates right here on RateZip! This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Hometap URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/hometap - Type: lender review - Provider: Hometap - Website: http://hometap.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=1&aff_id=1154 Content excerpt: About Hometap is a home equity investment company that offers homeowners another way to “tap” into their house’s equity. Unlike a HELOC or home equity loan, a home equity investment is not a loan and doesn’t have any monthly payments or interest. Keep on reading to learn more about Hometap and see if a home equity investment is right for you! Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Hometap operates by investing in homeowners. They provide funds (the “investment”) in return for a percentage of the home's estimated future value. This percentage will remain the same, no matter whether the house appreciates or depreciates in value. If the house appreciates, then the homeowner will receive more proceeds, and if the house depreciates, the amount that has to be paid to Hometap is less. In this way, Hometap is sharing the risk of depreciation with the homeowner, and just like any other investment, they want homeowners to do well. Working with Hometap is easy from start to finish. If you’re still researching your options, you can take a five-minute quiz to see if Hometap is right for you, or get an estimate in just a couple of minutes with no obligation. If an application is approved, the investment funds will typically be received in as little as three weeks - depending on the value of your home, … ## HSBC Bank: Today's Home Mortgage Rates, CD Rates, Reviews, Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/hsbc - Type: lender review - Provider: HSBC North America - Rating: 3.5/5 - Website: http://www.us.hsbc.com/1/2/home/personal-banking Content excerpt: About HSBC North America / HSBC Bank USA is one of the largest banks in the United States. As of this writing, its $300 billion in assets ranked 10th among America's biggest banks. HSBC USA is the American arm of HSBC Holdings, a British company that is one of the largest banks in the world and is known as "The World's Local Bank." As a whole, HSBC has over 7,000 offices in more than 80 countries and boasts almost 90 million customers. If you're looking for a truly global bank, HSBC is a logical place to start your search. The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) was founded in 1865 in Hong Kong, which was then a British colony. Since then, HSBC has grown into one of the global banking giants, and it has steadily increased its influence in the United States with purchases of Marine Midland Bank in 1987 and Republic National Bank of New York in 1999. Today, HSBC operates more than 250 banking branches in the US. Though the branches are heavily concentrated in the state of New York, where HSBC operates over 165 branches, there are also locations in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and Washington D.C. Within its retail banking division, HSBC offers consumers financial products such as checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), and insurance. … ## HSH: Learn, Compare, and Shop Mortgages URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/hsh - Type: lender review - Provider: HSH - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.hsh.com/ Content excerpt: About Labeled a “Trusted Mortgage Resource since 1979,” HSH provides expert advice, informative articles, and multiple budgeting and planning calculators for consumers to use, all free of charge. Whether you’re looking to buy a home or are already a homeowner, HSH offers options to “Learn,” “Compare,” and “Shop,” depending on your individual mortgage needs. Some of HSH’s services include analyses and forecasts on current market conditions, as well as its “Ask the Expert” section, where you can ask an experienced mortgage individual any mortgage-related questions you might have. Some of their useful calculators include a Mortgage Calculator, a Down Payment Calculator, a Refinance Calculator, and more! You can also view current mortgage and refinancing rates and offers from lenders all over the United States, allowing you to compare quotes and find the one that works best for you. HSH is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, and if you’re at all familiar with the mortgage industry, you may recognize them from their editorial mortgage rate survey. For more than 35 years, HSH produced the most extensive editorial mortgage rate survey in the United States. This included gathering data from thousands of mortgage lenders from all over the nation every week. However, multiple factors, including a drastically changing mortgage industry as well as evolving customer needs, … ## Hudson City Savings Bank: Home Mortgage Rates, CD Rates & Reviews URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/hudson-city-savings-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Hudson City Savings Bank - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.mtb.com/about-mt/welcome/hudson-city/faqs#pg=1 Content excerpt: About Hudson City Savings Bank, a subsidiary of Hudson City Bancorp, is a New Jersey based bank founded just after the Civil War. The bank now has over 100 branches in 21 counties of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. Hudson City is one of America's oldest banks, and its also New Jersey's biggest savings bank. Over the years, the company has relied on its corporate motto - “Bank on Better Values.” M&T Bank purchased Hudson City Savings Bank in August 2012, but kept the name until 2016, when all Hudson City Saving Bank branches became M&T branches. Hudson City Savings Bank was founded on March 27, 1868 in Hudson City, NJ. The bank grew steadily over the years, surviving both the Great Depression and the Savings and Loan crisis of the 1980s. While most banks grow through mergers and acquisitions, Hudson City's story is mostly one of increasing its depositor base, primarily in its home state of New Jersey. Today, Hudson City Savings Bank operates 136 branches, with 98 located in New Jersey, 9 in Connecticut's Fairfield County, and 29 located in the state of New York. The company also employs over 1000 individuals. Hudson City offers the usual suite of financial products, such as certificates of deposit (CDs), savings accounts, and checking accounts. The bank remains closely tied to the communities that it serves, … ## Huntington National Bank URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/huntington-national-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Huntington National Bank - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.huntington.com/ Content excerpt: About Huntington National Bank is a prominent bank in the midwestern United States. It has 1,860 ATMs and nearly 1,000 branches operating in Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Huntington National Bank is a subsidiary of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated, which has $101 billion in assets. Huntington National Bank was founded in 1866 in Columbus, Ohio, where it still operates to this day. In 2016, Huntington acquired FirstMerit Bank. This merger has helped Huntington grow immensely; the net income for Huntington’s second quarter of 2017 was $272 million. This is a 56 % increase (or $97 million) from the previous year’s second quarter. Huntington has a lot of benefits designed to make banking easier for its customers. For example, Huntington Bill Pay is a free way to make payments on your mortgage, car, or other bills. Huntington also has a 24 Hour Grace overdraft relief feature, which gives customers more time to make a deposit in order to avoid overdraft fees. For those interested in the Huntington Voice Credit Card, Huntington allows you the choice between a card with three times the rewards points or with a 3% lower purchase APR. In addition to fixed rate mortgages, adjustable rate mortgages, and VA loans, Huntington also has several specialty mortgages. These include jumbo loans, home loans made especially for physicians, … ## Idaho Central Credit Union URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/idaho-central-credit-union - Type: lender review - Provider: Idaho Central Credit Union - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.iccu.com/ Content excerpt: About If you live in Idaho, chances are you’ve heard of Idaho Central Credit Union. Idaho Central Credit Union has 18 different branches throughout Idaho, in the Treasure Valley, Magic Valley, Eastern Idaho, and North Idaho areas. If you frequently travel outside of Idaho, don’t fret - you can also access approximately 30,000 co-op network ATMS for free! To find an ATM you can use, simply go to Idaho Central’s website to access the ATM locator. Most branches are open six days a week, with free online access anytime. With headquarters in Chubbuck, Idaho, Idaho Central offers Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts, Home Loans, CD and Retirement Accounts. They also offer services and products for businesses, including Business Checking Accounts, Business Savings Accounts, and Business Loans. Idaho Central first opened its doors in June of 1940. By the end of the year, they had 22 members and $298.93 in assets. Today, over 70 years later, they have over 360,000 members and more than $4 billion in assets! This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Flushing Savings Bank: Today's Mortgage Rates, CD Rates & Reviews URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/igobankingflushing-savings-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Flushing Bank / iGoBanking - Rating: 1/5 - Website: https://www.igobanking.com/ Content excerpt: About Flushing Savings Bank and its online banking division, iGoBanking.com, are subsidiaries of Flushing Financial Corporation (NASQAD: FFIC). Flushing Bank, headquartered in Flushing, NY, was founded in 1929, and today it serves customers out of 17 branches in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Nassau County. The bank has around $4.5 billion in assets. Flushing Savings Bank is still primarily a regional, community bank. It just so happens that it serves the largest community in the United States - greater New York City. Flushing Bank offers its customer base checking accounts, savings and money market accounts, and home loans. As a mortgage lender, the bank offers fixed-rate loans, adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), VA products, and USDA home loans. Additionally Flushing Savings Bank can refinance your home loan or give you a home equity loan. iGoBanking.com is the direct banking division of Flushing Savings Bank, FSB. It offers all products online and promotes high-yield savings and CD products with competitive interest rates. Accounts are all opened online or by mail, and can be managed over the internet. Unlike Flushing Savings Bank, iGoBanking is geared toward customers across the country who are looking for an Internet bank. iGoBanking offers checking, savings, CDs, IRAs, and money market accounts. Flushing Savings Bank Locations: Queens: 1. 44-51 Northern Boulevard, … ## ING Direct / Capital One 360: Today's Interest Rates, Mortgages, CDs URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/ing-direct - Type: lender review - Provider: ING Direct, now Capital One 360 - Status: no longer operating since 2012 - business now with Capital One 360 Content excerpt: About ING Direct was the online consumer banking presence in the United States for ING Group, the Dutch banking and financial services company (NYSE: ING); ING is one of the largest financial services companies in the world, with 112,000 employees in 50 countries and assets exceeding $600 billion. ING Direct was formed in 2000 to offer personal banking products to consumers on the Internet. The platform grew quickly, as ING Direct acquired NetBank and Sharebuilder, an online bank and online stock platform respectively, picking up over 100,000 customers. In 2011, Capital One (NYSE: COF) bought ING Direct for $9 billion, rebranding it as Capital One 360. Today, Capital One 360 continues to serve customers via the Internet. Capital One's products including checking accounts (360 Checking, Teen Checking), savings accounts (360 Savings, Kids Savings), certificates of deposit (CDs), and retirement accounts (IRAs). Consumers can also apply for mortgage loans for Capital One via the web portal. Options include fixed rate loans, adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), and home equity loans. Capital One is one of America's largest mortgage lenders. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Insignia Mortgage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/insignia-mortgage - Type: lender review - Provider: Insignia Mortgage - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://www.insigniamortgage.com/ Content excerpt: About If you’re not the average borrower, then a loan with Insignia Mortgage may be just what you need. They specialize in servicing clients who require jumbo loans, no-tax loans, foreign national loans, and more! Insignia Mortgage works with some big numbers. Their Foreign National Loans range from $500,000 to $25 Million, and the average size of a loan closed by Insignia Mortgage is $1.9 Million. In fact, they are the number one originator in the United States based off of loan size, and in 2017 alone they originated more than $415 million in loans. Insignia Mortgage offers many unique products, often tailored to those who are self-employed, have lots of assets but income that fluctuates, and/or who receive income from outside of the U.S. Their No Tax Return Loans are meant for those who may not be able to provide a tax return, such as people who are retired or self-employed. Their Foreign National Program is used to help foreign borrowers. And that’s not all Insignia Mortgage offers; they also have Complex Loans, Interest Only Loans, Apartment Loans, Commercial Loans, High Leverage Bridge Loans, and Construction and Land Loans. Insignia Mortgage is based in California. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Irwin Union Bank - Interest Rates | Bank Failures | History URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/irwin-union-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Irwin Union Bank - Website: http://www.fdic.gov/ Content excerpt: About Irwin Union Bank F.S.B., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, was a subsidiary of Irwin Financial Corporation (NYSE: IFC). It was founded in 1871, and had branches now in the states of Indiana, Michigan, Utah, and Nevada, Arizona, Missouri, Wisconsin, Kentucky, California, and New Mexico. At its peak, Irwin Union Bank had $2.7 billion in assets and $2.1 billion in deposits. The bank failed in September of 2009 during the subprime mortgage crisis, and it was sold to First National Bank, National Association, Hamilton, Ohio with the help of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## J. G. Wentworth URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/j-g-wentworth - Type: lender review - Provider: J. G. Wentworth - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.jgwentworth.com/ Content excerpt: About J. G. Wentworth Home Lending has a multitude of products to offer their consumers, including Conventional loans (both Fixed Rate and Adjustable Rate), FHA loans, and VA Loans. They also offer refinancing for those looking to lower their monthly payment, consolidate debt, and more. J. G. Wentworth Home Lending has 21 branches found in 14 different states, and they offer a free, online calculator for those wondering how much their monthly mortgage payment might be. Those who have done business with J. G. Wentworth will be impressed at their competitive mortgage rates. By keeping their own costs low, J. G. Wentworth is able to pass on savings to their consumers. In fact, J. G. Wentworth even cuts their profit margin in order to offer great rates to consumers. J. G. Wentworth has an easy, online application that allows for a streamlined approval process. Furthermore, their loans have no points and no hidden fees. As of this writing, they have funded over $10 billion in loans. With an A+BBB Accreditation and top customer ratings, you know that J. G. Wentworth is a lender you can trust. Is J. G. Wentworth right for you? Read more about mortgage lenders on RateZip. This mortgage lender profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the mortgage lender's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of mortgage lender information. ## KeyBank: Today's Mortgage Loan Rates, CD Rates, Reviews & Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/key-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Key Bank - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.key.com/ Content excerpt: About KeyBank, owned by KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY), is based in Cleveland, OH and is one of the largest banks in the country with $137.7 billion in assets. KeyBank offers banking products and services to individuals and companies across the country including mortgage loans, CDs, savings accounts and auto loans. KeyBank was formed in 1994, though in reality it is actually over a century old. The bank was actually created by a merger between Cleveland's Society Bank (founded in 1849) and Albany, NY's KeyCorp Bank (founded 1825). Today, the company employs around 18,000 individuals and operates over 1,100 full-service branches and nearly 1,500 ATMs. Though KeyBank maintains offices throughout the United States for corporate banking, it offers consumer banking in 15: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, and Washington. KeyBank is a full-service financial institution, and nearly all of its financial products, such as certificates of deposit (CDs), are available online, where you can complete a quick application. Over the years, Key has won various awards for its customer service. You can use RateZip to see how KeyBank's CD rates stack up against the competition. For those looking for some credit, … ## LaSalle Bank: Reviews, Ratings, Current Home Mortgage Rates, CD Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/lasalle-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: LaSalle Bank, now BofA - Website: https://www.bankofamerica.com/ Content excerpt: About LaSalle Bank Corporation, the parent company of LaSalle Bank and LaSalle Bank Midwest, was the largest bank with headquarters in Chicago. It has USD 75 billion in assets and USD 44.4 billion in deposits. At its peak, LaSalle Bank had over $110 billion in assets, which today would rank in the top 30 for largest American banks. In 2007, Bank of America acquired LaSalle Bank, and in May 2008 LaSalle's banking branches all took on the BofA name. LaSalle Bank's history dates back to 1927, when the National Builders Bank of Chicago was founded. It became LaSalle National Bank in 1940, then LaSalle Bank in 1999. Eventually, the bank grew to have 146 branch banking locations and 450 ATMs in the Chicagoland area alone. Its sister bank, LaSalle Bank Midwest, served Michigan and Indiana with 264 banking branches and over 1,000 ATMs. In 2007, Bank of America purchased LaSalle Bank for $21 billion, giving it a larger footprint in Chicago and Michigan. Midwestern customers who came to know and trust LaSalle Bank will find similar products and customer service at Bank of America. BofA offers the same certificates of deposit (CDs), savings accounts, and traditional checking accounts that LaSalle offered. Additionally, the bank is one of the largest mortgage lenders in the United States, offering fixed rate loans, adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), and VA products. … ## Reali Loans URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/lenda - Type: lender review - Provider: Reali Loans - Website: https://www.lenda.com/ Content excerpt: About Online home loans are becoming more and more popular, and with good reason. Reali Loans, formerly Lenda, only offers online home loans. Just because a loan is handled online doesn’t mean it’s only for the technologically savvy, however! A Home Loan Advisor will be assigned to you to help you from application to closing with whatever questions or issues you may have. Read on to learn more about the advantages of online home loans! Online applications normally have checklists that help borrowers get all their information in order. This way, you know what you’re missing and need to get immediately. Online applications also allow you to have access any time of night or day, as long as you can get connected to the internet. This is great for those with a busy schedule, or those who just want the ease of knowing they can work on their application whenever they want. You can use Reali’s online rate quote to find the best option for you, but that’s not the only way they help you save money. Having a digital workforce means that Reali can cut costs, which allows you to save even more. Reali even helps out the environment - they don’t require paper documents. Everything truly is online! Finally, one of the best benefits of online applications is time. Online applications are often quicker than traditional applications, … ## LenderFi | Today's Mortgage Rates | Home Refinancing, Consumer Reviews URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/lenderfi - Type: lender review - Provider: LenderFi - Rating: 4/5 - Website: http://www.lenderfi.com/ Content excerpt: About Dallas, Texas based LenderFi is a licensed mortgage banker founded in 2006. LenderFi is licensed in 44 states including the District of Columbia. LenderFi is a direct lender and also an UpFront Mortgage Lender (UML), a designation created by the Mortgage Professor, Jack Guttentag. LenderFi was created in 2006 for the purpose of originating mortgage loans over the Internet. The company has invested heavily in its online platform, which cuts out much of the overhead that you will find at other mortgage lenders. LenderFi primarily advertises itself on the Internet via websites such as RateZip. This is also a positive for consumers, as it means the lender must maintain home loan rates that are extremely competitive when shopped against other offers. There are other positives to consider when working with LenderFi. First, the company handles the entire lending process, from taking your application to processing the application to closing the loan. Working with a direct lender like LenderFi means that you'll be well informed of where your loan is in the process every step of the way. Additionally, LenderFi has a reputation for working much faster than most banks and mortgage lenders, and the company advertises the fact that it can close purchase loans, often a more difficult loan to process, in as little as two weeks. Finally, … ## LendingTree - Mortgage, Personal Loans, Compare Lenders URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/lendingtree - Type: lender review - Provider: LendingTree - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://www.ratezip.com/rate-quotes/redirects/tree/?ppcid=7&cid=RZCOMP Content excerpt: About LendingTree is an online marketplace for consumers to find the best lenders nationwide. Founded in the late 90's by Pittsburgh entrepreneur Doug Lebda, LendingTree has grown to be a household name in comparison shopping for lending products. Its "Banks Compete, You Win!" television campaigns have reached millions of consumers and enabled LendingTree to help facilitate billions of loans over the past 15 years. LendingTree's comparison shopping service currently covers six product categories: mortgage loans, personal loans, student loans, business loans, auto loans and credit cards. LendingTree is also now offering a free tool to check your credit score. Unlike many credit score services, LendingTree's service is truly a free service and does not have the recurring subscription fees that are associated with many others. If you’re considering debt consolidation, you may want to go with a loan from LendingTree. LendingTree suggests that those who wish to consolidate their debt go through four steps. First, make sure you understand your debt. You need to figure out how much debt you have and what your interest rates are. Next, you should choose a debt consolidation loan that works best for you. After that, develop a payment plan so that you can pay off your debt. And finally, make sure you develop a budget so that you can stay out of debt. … ## LendUS URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/lendus - Type: lender review - Provider: LendUS - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.lend.us/ Content excerpt: About LendUS was formed when RPM Mortgage, American Eagle Mortgage, Regency Mortgage and Mortgage Financial combined into a national mortgage lender. The individual companies are now all divisions of LendUS. Despite working on a now much-larger scale, LendUS is still a family-owned business. They utilize the talents of hundreds of loan officers to meet their customers’ needs. They offer mortgages for first-time home buyers, experienced home buyers, refinancers and more. LendUS has a focus on charity and the environment; in 2018, they donated $10 to the National Forest Foundation each time a Home On Time® App was submitted. LendUS is licensed in 39 different states. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Interest Rates, Ratings & Reviews for Liberty Bank for Savings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/liberty-bank-savings - Type: lender review - Provider: Liberty Bank - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.libertybank.com/ Content excerpt: About Liberty Bank for Savings, not to be confused with Liberty Bank of Connecticut, is a community bank serving Chicago and its suburbs. Known by its current name since 1990, it has five locations, all in the Chicagoland area - Chicago, Lincolnwood, and Park Ridge, IL. Liberty Bank for Savings is dedicated on serving the people in its communities, providing a savings, investment and lending products. Liberty Bank for Savings was founded in 1898 as a Building & Loan Association known as The Savings Bank of the People of All Saints. The name came from the All Saints Polish National Catholic Church, was founded the financial institution. The bank changed its name to Liberty Bank for Savings in 1990. Liberty offers citizens of Chicagoland a variety of financial options, which break down into three key categories - banking services, insurance & investments, and mortgages. Under the banking services arm, you will find checking, savings, and electronic banking options. These include checking accounts, money market and certificates of deposit (CDs), and online/mobile banking. Liberty Bank's insurance division, the Liberty Insurance Agency, offers car insurance, homeowner's insurance, life insurance, and health insurance. Liberty Bank for Savings is also an Illinois mortgage lender. The bank offers 7 year, 10 year, 15 year, and 30 year fixed rate options, … ## Liberty Reverse Mortgage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/liberty-reverse-mortgage - Type: lender review - Provider: Liberty Reverse Mortgage - Website: https://libertyreversemortgage.com/ Content excerpt: About Liberty Reverse Mortgage is a national reverse mortgage (HECM) lender, providing services in every state except for New York, Utah, South Dakota, and Hawaii. With over a decade of experience, more than 60,000 borrowers helped, and over $7.5 billion in loans funded, Liberty Reverse Mortgage is one of the largest and most knowledgeable reverse mortgage lenders you can go to! Reverse Mortgages are one of the most useful financial tools for homeowners who are 62 years of age or older. A reverse mortgage is a loan that allows you to access the equity in your home, but doesn’t require a monthly payment to the lender. As long as you comply with the loan conditions (which includes continuing to use the property as your primary residence and maintaining the property), a reverse mortgage only needs to be repaid when the last borrower dies or permanently leaves the home. Reverse mortgages can be used to supplement your retirement income, pay off your existing mortgage, get rid of high interest debt, and more! And because all processing and loan fees can be financed into the reverse mortgage, there are no up-front lender fees charged to you, the borrower. There are multiple benefits to working with Liberty Reverse Mortgage for your reverse mortgage needs. In addition to being rated 4.5 stars by Consumer Affairs and A+ by the Better Business Bureau, … ## Limestone Bank URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/limestone-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Limestone Bank - Rating: 2/5 - Website: https://www.limestonebank.com/ Content excerpt: About If you live in Kentucky, you may have heard of Limestone Bank, formerly PBI Bank. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Limestone Bank offers the usual personal and business banking products. However, they also offer financial products tailored to the agricultural and equine industries. As a community-oriented bank, Limestone Bank offers these unique products in order to better serve their rural clients. Agriculture is a big business in Kentucky, and Limestone Bank has the financial products to help support it. Among its Agricultural Lending products are farm infrastructure and real estate loans, loans for farm equipment and machinery, a livestock lending program, and lines of credit. And, of course, the equine industry is another big business in Kentucky, contributing over $3 billion every year to the state’s economy. (Just think of the Kentucky Derby!) If you’re interested in equine lending options, give Limestone a call. Just because Limestone Bank offers certain financial products targeted towards rural areas doesn’t mean that they neglect their city branches! Limestone has branches in Louisville (their headquarters) and Lexington (one of the largest cities in Kentucky), as well as the Butler, Green, Hart, Edmonson, Barren, Warren, Ohio, and Daviess counties. Those interested in personal banking can find checking accounts, savings accounts, … ## LoanDepot: Mortgage Lender Reviews, Rates, Complaints, BBB Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/loan-depot - Type: lender review - Provider: LoanDepot - Rating: 3.3/5 - Website: https://t.pxtrkng.com/aff_ad?campaign_id=453&aff_id=10941&aff_sub=7&aff_sub2= Content excerpt: About loanDepot is a large national mortgage lender based in Southern California's Foothill Ranch. Its founder, Anthony Hsieh, founded two prior successful mortgage operations which he later sold to E*Trade and LendingTree. Hsieh founded loanDepot in 2010, and the company's business model relies primarily on working directly with consumers over the Internet. Since its founding, loanDepot has funded over $200+ billion loans. loanDepot's business model is simple - the company advertises its services on rate comparison websites such as RateZip.com, where consumers are able to compare offers from multiple mortgage lenders. Many times, loanDepot discloses the rate that it can offer a borrower up front. An interested borrower then reaches out to loanDepot and begins the process of applying for a loan. Although it's unlikely that you'll be able to meet your loan officer in person before closing your mortgage or refinance, you can easily verify loanDepot's credentials via the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or through reading the types of reviews that you'll find here. loanDepot offers a wide array of products, including 15 and 30 year fixed rate mortgages, ARMs, and VA home loans. In 2012, loanDepot officially became a licensed mortgage lender in all 50 states. In February of 2019, loanDepot released the mello smartloan™, which allows you to digitally connect your documents, … ## Loan Factory URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/loan-factory - Type: lender review - Provider: Loan Factory - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.loanfactory.com/home Content excerpt: About Loan Factory is a mortgage brokerage with a very unique best price guarantee. They’ll match any rate/cost combination, or they’ll pay you $500! Now that’s confidence in their pricing. It’s obvious that Loan Factory wants their borrowers to have the best experience possible. In fact, they earn less for each loan than their competitors do, and as a result, they are able to offer the borrower more savings. Their focus on customer service has caused over 80% of their business to come from repeat clients or referrals. If people keep on using the same service and recommend that service to their friends and family members, you know that it’s something good. Loan Factory used to be known as Hi-Mark Reality & Mortgage. They also have the trade name Mega Loans. Loan Factory has almost 90 active loans and more than 4,800 successfully closed loans. They are one of the top producers for refinance volume. Loan Factory is currently found in Washington, Minnesota, Texas and California, but hopes to soon expand to New Jersey as well. Their headquarters are in San Jose. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Lower URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/lower - Type: lender review - Provider: Lower - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://www.lower.com/ Content excerpt: About When it comes right down to it, the most important thing when looking for a mortgage is getting a lower rate. Lower rates mean you’ll be paying less each month, which means more of your own money stays in your pocket and you’ll pay off your loan faster. Why not choose a lender that has what you want right in the name? Lower is a lender headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, and licensed to do business in 33 states. They’re a tradename of Homeside Financial, LLC, which is a top 100 lender. All 200 of their employees work at their Ohio location, but they’re available to help borrowers nationwide through phone, email or text message, no matter the time! A great name and great customer service? But wait - it gets better! Lower doesn’t require a credit check right away. You can get prequalified first and get your credit checked once you’re ready to move forward. This prevents your credit from dropping until it has to. Want a once-in-a-lifetime deal? For a limited time, if you buy or refinance your house with Lower, you won’t have to pay lending fees for any future refinances. That way, whenever interest rates drop to a point where you can save, you can take advantage of this deal! Be sure to check out Lower.com for more information. This profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the company's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of lending information. ## Manhattan Mortgage Reviews & Ratings | Refinance Mortgage Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/manhattan-mortgage - Type: lender review - Provider: Manhattan Mortgage, now Guaranteed - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://www.guaranteedrate.com/about-us/manhattan-Mortgage Content excerpt: About Established in 1985, Manhattan Mortgage was a mortgage broker headquartered in New York City, New York. At its peak, the company originated over $3.5 billion in mortgage loans per year and was recognized as the #1 residential mortgage brokerage in metropolitan New York. Melissa Cohn, owner and President, who founded the company and built it into a multi-billion dollar enterprise, was named Top Mortgage Originator for the 10 years in a row by the editors of "Mortgage Originator Magazine". She is also the recipient of the Ernst & Young 2003 Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Financial Services category in the New York Metro Area. In October 2012, Manhattan Mortgage merged with Guaranteed Rate, a mortgage banker, as the market grew increasingly difficult for mortgage brokers. Manhattan Mortgage brought with it 60 employees and eight offices - two located in Manhattan, one in Brooklyn, and the rest located in Croton-on-Hudson, Southampton, East Hampton, Washington Depot, and Hopewell Jackson. Guaranteed Rate, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, is one of the largest mortgage bankers in the country. In 2012, the company was the 8th largest non-bank mortgage lender in America and originated over $14 billion in mortgages. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Masters Team Mortgage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/masters-team-mortgage - Type: lender review - Provider: Masters Team Mortgage - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://mastersteammortgage.com/ Content excerpt: About Masters Team Mortgage is the premier mortgage broker in Folsom, California. They offer fixed rate mortgages, adjustable rate mortgages, VA loans, construction loans, home refinance, bridge loans, home equity loans and more. They also offer down payment assistance for first time home buyers and a bank statement program for self-employed borrowers. Like many local mortgage brokers, Masters Team Mortgage puts a huge emphasis on their clients. They want their borrowers to be educated and feel comfortable before moving forward with a loan program. They also encourage borrowers to stop by their office if they ever want to meet face-to-face. Masters Team Mortgage is willing to go the extra mile to help their clients have a stress-free mortgage process. The home loan experts at Masters Team Mortgage have more than 100 years of lending experience combined. It’s this experience, as well as their dedication, that helps them find the best program they can for their borrowers. They believe every client deserves to have all their options laid out before them before making a decision. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Reviews & Ratings for MB Financial Bank | Search MB Interest Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/mb-financial-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: MB Financial Bank - Website: http://www.mbfinancial.com/ Content excerpt: About MB Financial Bank was bought by Fifth Third Bank in 2018. The purchase helped Fifth Third increase in size significantly. MB Financial Bank, a subsidiary of MB Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: MBFI), was a 100+ year old bank serving the Chicagoland area. The bank had almost $10 billion in assets and 90 branch banking locations in Chicago and the nearby suburbs. MB Financial offered competitive mortgage rates, savings accounts, CDs, and other financial products. MB Financial Bank's history dates back to 1911, when a group of Chicagoans formed the Mid-City National Bank. Manufacturers Bank was created in 1913 in Chicago's West Town / Wicker Park neighborhoods. Both banks successfully survived the Great Depression and grew through committed service to the local community. In 2011, Mid-City and Manufacturers merged to form MB Financial Bank, creating one of Chicago's biggest independent banks. MB Financial offered personal banking and borrowing options to thousands of Chicagoland citizens. MB's banking products included checking, MB Red Checking, savings accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs), debit cards, and Internet and mobile banking. In terms of borrowing, MB Financial provided home equity loans, personal & vehicle loans, credit cards, and mortgages. As a mortgage lender, the bank offered fixed rate and adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs). … ## MetLife Bank / GE Capital Bank: Today's Interest Rates & Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/metlife-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: MetLife Bank / GE Capital Bank Content excerpt: About MetLife Bank was the retail banking arm of MetLife (NYSE: MET). The bank was formed in 2001, when the company purchased Grand Bank and rebranded it; at the time, MetLife was the first insurance company with a banking arm. In 2008, MetLife Bank acquired First Horizon National Corporation's mortgage division and EverBank's reverse mortgage division. The bank became a major player in both traditional mortgage lending and reverse mortgage origination. At its peak, MetLife Bank offered competitively priced CDs, mortgages, auto loans, savings accounts, and other consumer banking products. However, in 2011, MetLife decided that it was no longer appropriate to operate MetLife Bank. The bank first stopped originating mortgages & reverse mortgages, then in January of 2013, MetLife solid its deposit business to GE Capital Retail Bank, GE's banking division. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Mid Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union | Reviews | Mortgages | CDs URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/mid-hudson-valley-federal-credit-union - Type: lender review - Provider: Mid Hudson Valley FCU - Rating: 4.5/5 - Website: https://www.mhvfcu.com/ Content excerpt: About The Mid Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union is a full service credit union serving a membership of over 44,000 in Ulster, Dutchess and Orange County, New York. MHVFCU has branches in Kingston, Saugerties, Red Hook, Poughkeepsie, Highland, Newburgh and Middletown. MHVFCU offers low mortgage rates, savings rates, personal loan rates and internet home banking. The Mid Hudson Valley FCU was originally founded in 1963 as the IBM Kingston Employees Federal Credit Union. In 2002, MHVFCU became a community credit union, which means that anyone who lives, works, goes to school, or performs volunteer work in Dutchess, Orange County, or Ulster may join, along with local businesses. MHVFCU is owned by its 58,000 members, has over $700 million in assets, and is not-for-profit. The credit union has eleven branches, which are located in Highland, Kingston, Middletown, Newburgh, Port Ewen, Poughkeepsie, Red Hook, Rhinebeck, and Saugerties. If you are unfamiliar with a credit union, there are a few similarities and differences that you need to know. First, the similarities - you can find all of the same financial products at a place like Mid Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union that you can find at a regular bank, and sometimes you can find even more. You will also be able to access your account and pay bills online. As for differences, … ## Millennium Bank of Texas / State Bank of Texas: Today's Rates, Reviews URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/millennium-bank-texas - Type: lender review - Provider: Millennium Bank, now State Bank of Texas - Website: http://www.statebnk.com/2735/mirror/ Content excerpt: About Millennium Bank, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, was one of the top community banks in the United States. Millennium was a nationwide preferred SBA lender, and offered business and personal banking with very competitive products. As a community lender, the bank had only one branch location, though it did have over $100 million in assets. Millennium Bank failed on July 2, 2009 during the subprime crisis, and it was sold to the State Bank of Texas with assistance from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The State Bank of Texas, headquartered in Irving, Texas, was founded in 1987 by a group of Asian Indian investors. Today, State Bank of Texas operates four branch banking locations and has over $600 million in assets. Though the bank does not originate home mortgages, it does offer a variety of personal banking products. These include traditional checking, interest bearing checking accounts, money market accounts, and traditional savings. Additionally, State Bank of Texas offers commercial real estate and hospitality loans. State Bank of Texas Locations: 1. 11950 Webb Chapel Road , Dallas, Texas 75234 2. 605 W. Airport Freeway , Irving, TX 75062 3. 517 W. Interstate 30, Garland, TX 75043 4. 500 W. Beltline Road , Richardson, TX 75080 This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. … ## Millennium Bank | Ponzi Schemes URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/millennium-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Millennium Bank - Website: http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2009/2009-68.htm Content excerpt: About Millennium Bank was a Caribbean-based bank operated a Ponzi scheme that involving high-yield CDs offered on to consumers on the Internet. Millennium used a number of other entities in its scheme, including a parent company in Switzerland called the United Trust of Switzerland. The company claimed that the United Trust was a Swiss bank, but this turned out to be untrue. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) shut down Millennium Bank in 2009, stating that the Ponzi scheme had raised nearly $70 million since 2004. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Morty URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/morty - Type: lender review - Provider: Morty, NMLS ID # 1429243 - Website: https://www.morty.com/l/peklava?utm_source=peklava&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=ratezip-comparison-table Content excerpt: About Morty was founded in 2016 to help make the mortgage process easier and more accessible for interested homebuyers. They only broker purchase mortgages, which makes them experts in their field and allows them to be in touch with what homebuyers are really looking for. Morty is currently licensed in 44 states and Washington D. C. As a licensed Mortgage Broker, Morty helps consumers shop for mortgages by instantly comparing rates and loan programs from their top lenders. These loan options can be personalized for your unique property and financial situation in just a few seconds, without a hard credit pull. Once you find an option that works for you, you can get preapproved in five minutes or less. This preapproval is 100% accurate and can be accessed and downloaded from your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Being able to get a preapproval almost instantly and from anywhere with an internet connection is critical in today’s fast paced real estate market. With Morty, you can close in as soon as three weeks, and you’ll have a team of mortgage experts to help you know the status of the loan and the required next steps. As a broker and a marketplace, Morty doesn’t fund loans themselves. Rather, they work with third-party lenders who fund the loans. But because Morty works with multiple lenders, … ## Mount Diablo Lending URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/mount-diablo-lending - Type: lender review - Provider: Mount Diablo Lending - Rating: 4/5 - Website: http://mtdiablolending.com/ Content excerpt: About Mount Diablo Lending is a trade name of Mortgage Solutions FCS Inc. They have three branches: their headquarters in California, as well as a branch in Ohio and one in Texas. They’re licensed in 19 states. Mount Diablo Lending offers a digital mortgage, where the borrower can close in less than 21 days and lock rates online. Their products include fixed rate mortgages, adjustable rate mortgages, high balance mortgages, jumbo mortgages, and private mortgage insurance. Some people may not be familiar with a high balance mortgage. It’s similar to a jumbo mortgage in that a high balance mortgage exceeds the conforming loan limit, but unlike a jumbo mortgage, the loan amount is not higher than the limit for the high-cost area. Not every county is a high-cost area, but if yours is, then a high balance mortgage may be right for you. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Mr. Cooper URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/mr-cooper - Type: lender review - Provider: Mr. Cooper, formally Nationstar - Rating: 4.5/5 - Website: https://www.mrcooper.com/ Content excerpt: About Formerly Nationstar, Mr. Cooper’s motto is “Changing the Face of Home Loans.” They provide a variety of loan options, including conventional loans, fixed rate loans, adjustable rate loans, VA loans, and jumbo loans. They also offer a free online guide on homebuying, as well as calculators to help you plan your finances. Whether you’re looking to purchase your first house or want to refinance your current home, Mr. Cooper is here to help Pros Cons Good for borrowers with less than ideal credit or credit history. Mortgage rates tend to be higher than average. Close-On-Time Guarantee and Real Estate Rewards Program Does not have an online application; consumers have to call to speak to a loan officer. Through their mobile app, Mr. Cooper allows borrowers to view their FICO® Score and property tax history. Borrowers can also make their mortgage payments with no online transaction fees. And with US based customer service, any questions or concerns about your mortgage can be taken care of quickly and confidently. Mr. Cooper requires a minimum down payment of 5% and a minimum credit score of 580. Compared to other similar lenders, Mr. Cooper may have slightly higher rates, but this could be because they are able to help borrowers with lower credit scores. After all, the better your credit score, the better rate you can generally get. Potential customers of Mr. … ## M&T Bank Reviews & Ratings | Home Mortgage Loan Rates | CDs URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/mt-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: M&T Bank - Rating: 2/5 - Website: https://www.mtb.com/personal/Pages/Index.aspx Content excerpt: About M&T Bank, a subsidiary of M&T Bank Corporation (NYSE: MTB), is one of the largest banks in the United States, serving primarily the East Coast. Headquartered in Buffalo, New York, M&T is the 29th largest American bank with nearly $90 billion in assets. With more than 700 banking branches, 2,000 ATMs, and almost 13,000 employees and eight states and the District of Columbia, M&T Bank offers all the conveniences that you expect from a large, well-known bank. Its products include mortgage loans, CDs, auto loans, and savings accounts. M&T Bank's history dates back to 1856, when Manufacturers and Traders Bank (M&T) was founded. The bank has grown both organically and through acquisitions; in fact, M&T acquired 20 other banks in the past 25 years. Some of the bigger recent acquisitions include Baltimore's Provident Bank, Delaware's Wilmington Trust, and New Jersey's Hudson City Bancorp. Today, M&T's footprint includes New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, and Florida. The bank also has a presence in Toronto. Though M&T did accept TARP funds, the bank has been profitable for each quarter dating back to the 1970s. M&T Bank describes itself as “strong & stable, a local bank that's committed to the communities we serve.” As such, the bank offers an assortment of products suited to the needs of its communities. … ## Mutual Bank / United Central Bank Reviews | Today's CD + Savings Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/mutual-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Mutual Bank, now United Central Bank - Website: http://ucbtx.com/ Content excerpt: About Mutual Bank, headquartered in Harvey, Illinois, was a Chicagoland Bank with over 40 years of experience. At its peak, Mutual had around $1.6 billion in assets, 12 branches, and offered the Chicagoland community innovative products, such as mortgages, CDs, savings, car loans and other banking products, and personal customer service. In July 2009, Mutual Bank failed during the subprime mortgage crisis, and with the assistance of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), it was purchased by United Central Bank (UCB) of Garland, Texas. Today, 7 of Mutual Bank's 12 locations remain under the UCB brand name. United Central Bank was created in 1987 to offer banking services to Dallas, Texas and nearby communities. Today, UCB has 24 locations in 7 states - Virginia (2), Texas (9), California (2), Illinois (7), Georgia (1), New Jersey (1), New York (1). United Central Bank offers certificates of deposit (CDs), savings accounts, interest bearing checking accounts, and personal & commercial loans. Additionally, the bank offers mobile and online banking for customers. Find out how United Central Bank interest rates on CDs and savings accounts compare to other lenders on RateZip! United Central Bank Locations: Texas - 1. 1107 E. Pioneer Parkway, Arlington, Texas 76010 2. 5816 North IH-35, Austin, TX 78751 3. 2625 Old Denton Road, Suite 100, Carrollton, TX 75007 4. … ## Nassau Financial Reviews, Ratings | Today's Mortgage & CD Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/nassau-financial - Type: lender review - Provider: Nassau Financial Credit Union - Rating: 3.5/5 - Website: https://www.nassaufinancial.org/home/home Content excerpt: About Nassau Financial Federal Credit Union was founded in 1936 and serves anyone who lives, works, volunteers, worships or attends school in Nassau County, New York. Nassau Financial has over $260 million in assets and serves over 30,000 members. Nassau Financial offers competitive savings rates, CD rates, loans and mortgages. The Nassau Financial Federal Credit Union began in 1936 as the Nassau County Court House Employees Federal Credit Union. It became the Nassau County Employees FCU in 1969, Nassau County FCU in 1991, and finally Nassau Financial FCU in 2005. The credit union has four locations and more than $300 million in assets. First and foremost, it's important to clarify that a credit union such as Nassau Financial offers the same financial products that you'll find at a bank. That means that you will also find certificates of deposit, checking and savings accounts, and money market accounts here. Credit unions also originate home loans, often with more flexible guidelines than what you'll find at a bank or mortgage lender. The main advantages of credit unions, then, are the increased flexibility mentioned above along with an added commitment to the local community. Consumers who join credit unions often feel as though they're part of an important pillar of the neighborhood rather than simply another account number at the bank. … ## National Bank of Kansas City Reviews | NBKC Current Mortgage Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/national-bank-kansas-city - Type: lender review - Provider: National Bank of Kansas City - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.nbkc.com/ Content excerpt: About National Bank of Kansas City, headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, is a national bank that serves consumers on the Internet and through its six branch banking locations in Kansas and Missouri. The bank was chartered in 1999, and today National Bank of Kansas City offers competitive rates for CDs, savings accounts, and mortgages. National Bank of Kansas City's mortgage division, located at www.nbofkc.com, is one of the top direct-to-consumer lending operations in the country. Because NBKC is primarily an Internet mortgage lender, and thus the bank is constantly competing against other lenders on websites like RateZip! NBKC offers fixed rate loans, adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), VA loans, and more. Whether looking to purchase a home or refinance your mortgage, the National Bank of Kansas City is a lender that you should consider. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## National Debt Relief URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/national-debt-relief - Type: lender review - Provider: National Debt Relief - Website: https://apply.nationaldebtrelief.com/?src=cadvocate Content excerpt: About National Debt Relief (NDR) is a debt settlement company with headquarters in New York City, NY. They specialize in settling debts associated with credit cards, personal loans and lines of credit, business debts, collections and repossessions, medical bills, and some student debts. They mostly work with clients who have $7,500 or more in qualifying debts; however, if you owe less than this or if your debts aren’t qualifying debts, NDR still encourages you to reach out to them so that they can put you in touch with someone who can help you. When you contact NDR, you can get a free estimate of how much you can save. There is no obligation to work with them, and NDR does not charge any fees until after your accounts have been settled. This means that you will only be charged if NDR has helped you reduce your debt. NDR has helped thousands of clients, and they may be able to help you too. What is debt settlement? Debt settlement is when creditors agree to lower a debt’s outstanding balance, lower interest rates, and/or waive penalties. In many cases, it helps to have a debt settlement company, such as NDR, negotiate with a creditor on your behalf. NDR has skilled employees dedicated to helping their clients. To help clients prepare to pay off their debt, NDR offers an FDIC-insured trust account in which clients can make monthly deposits. … ## Navy Federal Credit Union Reviews, Ratings | Navy FCU Interest Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/navy-federal-credit-union - Type: lender review - Provider: Navy FCU - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.navyfederal.org/ Content excerpt: About Navy Federal Credit Union, founded in 1933, serves over 4 million members. This credit union offers competitive financial products including mortgages, cd rates, car loans and more to those who are or were involved in the armed forces, either directly or indirectly. This includes: Military personnel-Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force, retirees Department of Defense Reservists Army and Air National Guard Personnel Department of Defense (DOD) Officer Candidates US Government employees assigned to DOD installations. DoD civilian employees and contractors assigned to U.S. Government installations All Family Members, including grandparents, parents, spouses, siblings, grandchildren, children (including adopted and stepchildren) and household members The company's vision statement is simple but direct: “Navy Federal Credit Union will perform with such excellence that all present and potential members will choose Navy Federal as their primary financial institution.” As of this writing, the Navy FCU has nearly $55 billion in assets and 4.3 million members. Navy Federal has branches in Nevada, Florida, California, Virginia and Tennessee, and there are also more than 55,000 ATMs worldwide. Between these physical locations and online access, you will never be without your money with Navy Federal. Though credit unions carry the same products as traditional banks, … ## Alliance Bank / NBT Bank: Today's Home Mortgage Rates, Reviews URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/nbt-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: NBT Bank - Rating: 3.5/5 - Website: http://www.nbtbank.com/home.html Content excerpt: About NBT Bank, founded in 1856, is an independent, community bank headquartered in Norwich, New York. The bank serves mostly customers in New York, and it has 86 branches through upstate NY and a few locations in Vermont and Massachusetts. In addition to Alliance Bank, NBT also owns Pennstar Bank which has 35 offices in northeast Pennsylvania, and Hampshire First Bank, which has five locations in New Hampshire. NBT Bancorp, the parent company of NBT Bank, trades on the NASDAQ exchange under the symbol NBTB. The company is very sound financially, and it has not missed a dividend payment since its founding in the mid-1850's. In other words, NBT Bank is in many ways the opposite of the bloated, risky, too-big-to-fail banks. NBT Bank offers checking, savings, personal loans, CDs, mortgages and other banking products. It also offers asset management and various services for businesses. The company boasts a large network of ATM machines and comprehensive online services. As of early 2013, NBT Bank is the 133rd largest bank in the United States with $7.55 billion in assets. NBT Bank now has 161 locations, 121 offices and over 1000 employees. In 2012, NBT Bank merged with Alliance Bank, N.A. Alliance Bank was a community bank based in central New York State. Alliance served approximately 90,000 households, primarily in the counties of Cortland, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga and Oswego. … ## New American Funding URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/new-american-funding - Type: lender review - Provider: New American Funding - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://www.newamericanfunding.com/lfj/ratezip/?refinance=13966514&purchase=13966494&phone=8553538842&utm_source=Ratezip.com&utm_medium=Display&utm_content=default&utm_campaign=Ratezip.com_CT_RQ&utm_term=default&loantype=&sub_id=777&cs=&pub_id=777_NoCID Content excerpt: About New American Funding is a trade name for Broker Solutions, Inc. It was founded in 2003 by husband-and-wife Rick and Patty Arvielo, who continue to serve as the CEO and President respectively. The family-owned business currently has approximately 2,700 employees and over 145 office locations. New American Funding is licensed in every state except for New York. However, their specialty is Florida home loans. They offer a wide variety of loan types, including adjustable rate, fixed, and jumbo loans. They fund about $900 million in loans every month and have a servicing portfolio of $23 billion. As a family-run business, New American Funding has made charity and giving back one of its top priorities. From setting up volunteering programs for employees to donating to charitable organizations, New American Funding strives to make the world around them a better place. ## New Bank Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/new-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: New Bank - Website: https://www.bannerbank.com/ Content excerpt: About New Bank was a division of PremierWest Bank. New Bank offered high APY Savings accounts, High-Yield Checking Accounts, Competitive 12 and 24 month CD rates. In 2013, PremierWest Bank was acquired by AmericanWest Bank, which was later acquired by Banner Bank in 2015. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Reviews of New York Community Bank | Mortgage Rates, CDs, & More URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/new-york-community-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: NYCB - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.mynycb.com/Pages/home.aspx Content excerpt: About New York Community Bank (NYCB), a subsidiary of New York Community Bancorp (NYSE: NYCB), is one of the largest thrifts in America and the largest in the state of New York. The bank's holding company has over $44 billion in assets, and NYCB operates in five states: New York, New Jersey, Florida, Ohio, and Arizona. New York Community Bank offers competitive CD rates, mortgage rates, auto loans, and more from it's 239 branch banking locations and over the Internet. NYCB's history dates back to 1859 with the founding of Queens County Savings Bank. Though it still operates Queens County as a brand, the company changed its name to New York Community Bank in 2000 as it outgrew the borough of Queens. NYCB's model is to have separate “divisions” to serve distinct communities. There are 120 branches in New York, and four divisions. There's a division for New Jersey, one for Florida and Arizona, and one for Ohio New York Community Bank Divisions: Queens County Savings Bank: Serves New York City's Queens borough with 33 branches. Richmond County Savings Bank: Serves NYC's Staten Island borough with 22 locations. Roosevelt Savings Bank: Serves NYC's Brooklyn borough with 8 branches. Roslyn Savings Bank: Serves Long Island's Nassau and Suffolk Counties with 53 branches. Garden State Community Bank: Serves New Jersey with 51 branches. … ## Ratings, Complaints & Rates for New York Municipal Credit Union URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/new-york-municipal-credit-union - Type: lender review - Provider: New York Munipical CU - Rating: 3.5/5 - Website: http://www.nymcu.org/ Content excerpt: About New York Municipal Credit Union, often called simply Municipal Credit Union (MCU), was founded in 1916. As of this writing, MCU has over 350,000 members and more than $1.8 billion in assets. MCU offers car loans, fixed rate, ARM, and jumbo mortgages, free checking accounts, high yield CD rates, and more to its members. The New York Municipal Credit Union was originally founded in 1916 by New York City's then Mayor, John Purroy Mitchel. Mitchel intended the credit union to serve city employees, who were often forced to borrow from predatory lenders. After its first year, MCU had only $570 in deposits. It's grown tremendously ever since, and it is now New York City's largest credit union with 13 branches and a big network of ATMs. Like all credit unions, MCU is a full service institution, meaning that it offers the same products that you can find at a bank. However, unlike a bank, MCU is run as a not-for-profit entity, and its members are also its owners. New York Municipal Credit Union is open to employees of the City of New York, federal employees working in one of the five boroughs, and more. Check out MCU's website to see if you qualify for membership. … ## Nexity Bank / Alostar Bank Ratings | Today's Savings Rates | CD Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/nexity-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Nexity, now a part of Alostar Bank - Website: http://www.alostarbank.com/ Content excerpt: About Nexity Bank, a subsidiary of Nexity Financial Corporation, was incorporated in 1999 in Birmingham, AL and failed on April 15, 2011. Nexity Bank operated offices in Birmingham, Atlanta, GA, Columbia, SC, Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, Myrtle Beach, SC, and Winston-Salem, NC. Prior to its collapse, Nexity Bank used the internet to provide some of the most competitive interest rates on CDs and money market and high yield savings accounts, and it was frequently in the BankRate.com's top tier for 100 highest APYs. Nexity Bank failed on April 15, 2011, with around $700 million in assets. With the help of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC), Alostar Bank, also headquartered in Birmingham, took over Nexity Financial Corp. Alostar Bank is not a traditional bank; rather than serving a small community via a branch banking footprint, the company serves the entire United States via the Internet. Alostar does not originate mortgage loans but does offer savings, checking, online banking, and certificates of deposit (CDs). Alostar Bank's CDs are available in 30 day, 90 day, 6 month, 9 month, 12 month, 18 month, 24 month, 36 month, and 60 month maturities. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## NJ Lenders Corp URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/nj-lenders-corp - Type: lender review - Provider: NJ Lenders Corp - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.njlenders.com/ Content excerpt: About With a name like NJ Lenders Corp, you might assume that this company only serves New Jersey. However, despite the name, NJ Lenders Corp is not only licensed in New Jersey, but also New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and Florida. They also have branches in both New Jersey and New York. NJ Lenders Corp is a residential mortgage banker that keeps 95% of their files in-house. They control the underwriting and closing processes, so that you never have to wonder where your documents are or whether or not they’re being worked on. The employees at NJ Lenders Corp also have an average of more than ten years of home loan finance and banking experience. Customer service is so successful here at that 70% of new mortgage loans come from referrals from previous clients. Since its founding in 1991, NJ Lenders Corp has closed more than $25 Billion in mortgage loans. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## On Q Financial URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/on-q-financial - Type: lender review - Provider: On Q Financial - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://onqfinancial.com/ Content excerpt: About The motto of On Q Financial is “Mortgage Simplified™.” They use experienced employees, cutting-edge technology, and clear communication to make the mortgage process simple, easy, and fast. They even have an On Time Guarantee, and if they don’t close your mortgage loan on time, they will pay both the buyer and the seller $1,000. On Q Financial has a variety of loan and mortgage products to choose from. These include common products such as Fixed Rate Mortgages, Adjustable Mortgages, and Jumbo Loans, as well as unique products like Manufactured Home Loans, Investment Property Loans, and One-Time Close Construction Loans. On Q Financial has over 650 employees and 70 branches found throughout the United States. They were founded in 2005, and their headquarters are in Arizona. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## One Reverse Mortgage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/one-reverse-mortgage - Type: lender review - Provider: One Reverse Mortgage - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.onereversemortgage.com/ Content excerpt: About Founded in 2001, One Reverse Mortgage is considered one of the largest lenders in the reverse mortgage industry. This is hardly surprising, since its parent company, Quicken Loans, is the second largest retail mortgage lender in the United States. One Reverse Mortgage is licensed in all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia. However, the company is not currently operating in Rhode Island, Vermont, or West Virginia. Currently, One Reverse Mortgage has over 150 licensed reverse mortgage specialists. They can provide assistance with any questions you may have about reverse mortgages, as well as provide information on One Reverse Mortgage’s products. As of this writing, One Reverse Mortgage offers three mortgage products: Adjustable Rate HECM, Fixed Rate HECM, and HECM For Purchase. HECM stands for Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, and HECMs are the most common type of reverse mortgages. Adjustable Rate HECMs allow borrowers to receive their funds in a variety of ways, including a lump sum, monthly payments, and/or a line of credit. Fixed Rate HECMs only distribute funds in a lump sum, but the interest rate on the loan is determined at the closing and remains the same for the duration of the loan. And finally, a HECM for Purchase is a loan option that allows eligible borrowers to purchase a new home without having to pay monthly mortgage payments. … ## Reviews of OneUnited Bank | Find Today's Home Mortgage & CD Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/oneunited-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: OneUnited Bank - Rating: 1/5 - Website: https://www.oneunited.com/ Content excerpt: About OneUnited Bank, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, is a bank that operates via branch locations in California, Florida, and MA and via a direct-to-consumer Internet platform. OneUnited is owned by African-Americans and designed to serve African-American communities within its three state footprint and on the web. The bank also has the US Treasury Department's community development financial institution (CDFI) designation. OneUnited offers competitive mortgage and refinance rates, savings accounts, CDs, and special Internet-only products. OneUnited Bank's history begins in 1982, when the Boston Bank of Commerce was formed to serve African-American communities. Kevin Cohee took over the bank in 1995 and began focusing on growth through acquisitions. Boston Bank of Commerce successfully expanded into Florida and California through acquisitions, and it became OneUnited in 2002. OneUnited has won the Treasury Department's Bank Enterprise Award five times, from 2004-2008. OneUnited Bank offers deposit products and home loans. Its deposit products include checking, savings, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit (CDs). Additionally, the bank offers Internet-only products, such as UNITY E-Style Checking (no monthly fees with direct deposit), U2 Savings, UNITY Gold E-Money Market, UNITY Gold 120 Day E-CD, and UNITY Gold Four Year CD. As a mortgage lender, … ## OneWest Bank Reviews & Ratings | Mortgages, CDs, Interest Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/onewest-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: OneWest Bank - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.owb.com/ Content excerpt: About OneWest Bank, headquartered in Pasadena, California, is a division of CIT Bank, N.A. OneWest was created in 2009 when the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) sold the assets of IndyMac Federal Bank to IMB HoldCo, a group made up mostly of hedge funds, and the newly formed bank began operating in March 2009. In 2015, CIT Group Inc. acquired IMB HoldCo. CIT Group Inc. was founded in 1908, and its total assets exceed $65 billion. Today, OneWest Bank operates 70 banking branch locations in Southern California. The bank has assets of more than $25 billion and over $14 billion in deposits, and offers mortgage loans, CDs, and more to Californians. The Independent National Mortgage Corporation, better known as IndyMac, was one of the largest savings and loan associations in Southern California and one of the top ten mortgage lenders in the United States. The bank failed in 2008 during the subprime mortgage crisis, and to date it is the fourth largest bank failure in American history. OneWest Bank began operating on March 19, 2009 with $16 billion in assets and IndyMac's 33 banking branches. Since then, OneWest has continued to grow through acquisitions such as the First Federal Bank of California and La Jolla Bank. OneWest Bank offers consumers in Southern California a full suite of financial products. The bank offers personal checking, savings, money market accounts, … ## Pac Trust Bank Ratings & Reviews | Current Mortgage & CD Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/pac-trust-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Pac Trust Bank - Website: https://www.bancofcal.com/ Content excerpt: About Pac Trust Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Banc of California Inc. (NASDAQ: BANC), is a federally chartered community savings bank which has been operating since 1941. The bank has 14 full service branches in the Los Angeles and San Diego CA areas. Pac Trust offers personal and business banking, mortgage loans, home equity loans, savings accounts, CDs and more. Pac Trust's history dates back to 1941, when the Rohr Employees Federal Credit Union was founded in Chula Vista, California. The credit union was intended to serve Rohr Aircraft's employees. As the credit union continued to expand, it became the Pacific Trust Federal Credit Union in 1995 and finally Pacific Trust Bank in 2000. Pac Trust had its initial public offering (IPO) in 2002. Until July 2013, Pac Trust's holding company was First PacTrust Bancorp; now it is Banc of California. Today, Pac Trust Bank has more than $3 billion in assets and over 60 total locations, although many of these locations are only partial service or part of The Private Bank of California, Pac Trust's sister bank. The bank offers a wide array of financial products, including savings and checking accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), and various loan options. Unlike most mortgage lenders, Pac Trust offers only adjustable rate loans. The three options available are 3/1, 5/1, and 7/1 ARMs. Additionally, … ## Ratings & Reviews of Pacific Mercantile Bank | Find Interest Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/pacific-mercantile-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Pacific Mercantile Bank - Rating: 2/5 - Website: https://www.pmbank.com/default.aspx Content excerpt: About Pacific Mercantile Bank, a subsidiary of Pacific Mercantile Bancorp (NASDAQ: PMBC), is a Costa Mesa, CA based bank serving the Orange County and greater Southern California community. The bank offers consumer and commercial banking products including certificates of deposit (CDs), savings accounts, and home mortgage loan products. Pacific Mercantile Bank originally opened in 1999, and today the bank has more than $1 billion in assets and seven banking branches. The four Orange County locations are in Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, La Habra, and San Juan Capistrano; there are single locations in Beverly Hills of Los Angeles County, La Jolla of San Diego County, and Ontario of San Bernardino County. Additionally, Pacific Mercantile's online banking platform allows customers to manage all of their financial accounts via the Internet and mobile devices. Pacific Mercantile is one of California's top mortgage lenders, offering home loan products to suit nearly every need. As of this writing, you can find conventional 15 and 30 year fixed rate mortgages, adjustable rate (ARM) loans, VA mortgages and refinancing options, and various affordable housing programs. Additionally, Pacific Mercantile Bank offers jumbo home loans up to $2 million. If you're in the market for a home loan in CA, make sure to check out Pacific Mercantile's mortgage rates. Pacific Mercantile Bank Locations: 1. … ## Paramount Bank URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/paramount-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Paramount Bank - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://paramountbank.com/ Content excerpt: About Paramount Bank offers banking and home loan solutions to over 10,000 customers, and their presence just keeps growing! From virtual banking and checking accounts to conventional loans and non-conforming loans, Paramount has a wide variety of products. One unique product in their banking portfolio is their High Interest Checking Service. With a APY of 1.75% and no ATM or annual fees, this checking account is designed to help you earn more money and keep the money you earned! In addition, Paramount also offers Certificates of Deposit and Savings Accounts. Their loan products include conventional loans, non-conforming loans, VA loans, FHA loans, and 203(k) loans. Many people who do their home lending through Paramount are satisfied with the service - in fact, Paramount has over 1,000 5-star home loan reviews, and an incredible 97% customer approval rating! Ratings and reviews are often the best way to determine whether or not a bank deserves your business, so be sure to check out review websites such as RateZip! Paramount Bank was founded in 1970. They are headquartered in Hazelwood, MO. ## PennyMac URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/pennymac - Type: lender review - Provider: PennyMac - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://www.pennymacusa.com/ Content excerpt: About Founded in 2008, PennyMac is a substantial player in the mortgage market. The company offers various mortgage and loan opportunities, ranging from mortgage relief programs to refinancing options. It is a Top Three Lender according to Insider Mortgage Finance and was voted a Top Mortgage Lender by Bankrate in 2020. PennyMac has served more than 1.8 million homeowners. As a direct mortgage lender and not a bank, PennyMac does not offer traditional banking services; instead, its sole focus is on the mortgage industry. It sometimes purchases loans and restructures mortgages, and was a part of the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) and the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). PennyMac’s services are broken into two categories: Purchasing & Refinancing. Under “Purchasing,” customers can find information on Adjustable Rate Mortgages, Fixed Rate Loans, and VA Loans. PennyMac also offers “Multifamily Loans” - loans for multifamily or apartment buildings. Under “Refinancing,” PennyMac lists a variety of options, including Cash Out Refinancing and Fixed Rate Loans. As far as mortgages offered, PennyMac has 30-year, 20-year, and 10-year Fixed Rate Mortgages, as well as 5 and 7 year Adjustable Rate Mortgages. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Pentagon Federal Credit Union Reviews, Ratings, and Current Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/pentagon-federal-credit-union - Type: lender review - Provider: Pentagon FCU - Rating: 3.5/5 - Website: https://www.penfed.org/ Content excerpt: About PenFed, also known as The Pentagon Federal Credit Union was chartered to serve members of the armed forces including the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, defense-related companies, and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Pentagon Federal Credit Union has over $16 billion in assets, around 1 million members, and offers a full range of products including credit cards, car loans, mortgage loans, personal loans, savings and CDs. The Credit Union was federally chartered in 1935 to serve its members across the globe. Today, Pentagon FCU's headquarters are in Alexandria, Virginia, and the credit union now has 22 locations in Hawaii, New York, North Carolina, Texas, and Washington D.C. Additionally, there are Pentagon branches located in Guam, Japan, Portugal, Puerto Rico, and Turkey, all on military bases. Additionally, Pen FCU has a large network of ATMs that members can use free of charge. Like all other credit unions, Pentagon Federal is owned by its members and not-for-profit. Pentagon offers the same financial products that you would find at a bank, so there's no need to worry about selection either. Ready to see how Pentagon Federal Credit Union stacks up against our other top lenders? Compare Pentagon FCU mortgage rates, … ## People's United Bank Mortgage & CD Rates, Reviews & Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/peoples-united-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: People's United Bank - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.peoples.com/portal/site/peoples/ Content excerpt: About People's United Bank, a subsidiary of People's United Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: PBCT), is one of the largest banks in the United States. Headquartered in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the bank's $31 billion in assets rank among the top 50 American financial institutions. People's offers personal, small business, and commercial banking. For personal banking, consumers can find CDs, auto loans, mortgages and more at People's United Bank. People's United's history dates back to 1842, when People's Bank, a savings bank, was founded in Bridgeport. The company has grown steadily over the years, and it is now the biggest independent bank in New England. People's United now has more than 400 banking branch locations in its home state of Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. People's United Bank offers a variety of financial products. This includes savings accounts, checking accounts, and certificates of deposit (CDs), which People's offers in Plus and Passbook varieties. The bank also originates auto loans, home equity loans & lines of credit (HELOCs), and home loans. People's offers many options for home buyers, including: Fixed-rate mortgages: 30 year and 15 year Jumbo mortgages ($650K max): 30 year, 15 year, both fixed rate Adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs): 10/1, 7/1, 5/1 Interested in seeing how People's United Bank mortgage rates, CD rates, … ## PERL Mortgage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/perl-mortgage - Type: lender review - Provider: PERL Mortgage - Website: https://perlmortgage.com/ Content excerpt: About PERL Mortgage was founded in 1994. Their motto was “Your Lender for Life,” which meant that they viewed every interaction and transaction as one of many. They wanted you to continue to come to them for all your lending needs. PERL was acquired by CrossCountry Mortgage in July of 2019. PERL had options for those looking to purchase a new home, refinance their current home, or purchase a second home or investment property. They did business in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## PHH Mortgage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/phh-mortgage - Type: lender review - Provider: PHH Mortgage - Rating: 1/5 - Website: https://www.phhmortgage.com/13571 Content excerpt: About PHH Mortgage, a nationwide non-bank mortgage originator, is a subsidiary of PHH Corporation. It has been ranked among the top mortgage originators in the United States, and in 2016 was the fifth largest originator of retail residential mortgages. For being such a large company, PHH’s products and services are very focused. Read on to determine if PHH Mortgage is the right mortgage originator for you. PHH Mortgage has services to help consumers looking to purchase or refinance a home. Their loan options include fixed rate mortgages, adjustable rate mortgages, jumbo loans, and Veterans Affairs mortgages. PHH Mortgage even has a competitive service guarantee for its customers. PHH came under fire in 2015 for supposedly accepting illegal kickbacks after referring consumers to mortgage insurers. PHH continues to fight the allegations, however, and the company maintains that they did not violate any laws. Why might it be beneficial to work with a non-bank mortgage originator and servicer, such as PHH Mortgage? By working with a company that solely works with mortgages, you can often be sure that you’re working with people who know what they’re doing and can get you the best deal. However, sometimes your service can be more personalized by working with a smaller company. Use RateZip to determine which mortgage originator is right for you. … ## Platinum Capital Mortgage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/platinum-capital-mortgage - Type: lender review - Provider: Platinum Capital Mortgage - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://www.platinumcapitalmortgage.com/ Content excerpt: About Platinum Capital Mortgage is a mortgage company serving the state of California. If you live in California and are looking for a mortgage, a state-specific mortgage company, such as Platinum Capital Mortgage, may be able to provide more specialized service than a national company. The products that Platinum Capital Mortgage offers includes VA Loans, USDA Loans, Conventional Loans, Jumbo Loans, Stated Income Loans, Commercial Loans and HomePath mortgages. Platinum Capital Mortgage also offers refinancing for those looking to reduce the terms of their loans or utilize their home equity. Some of their niche programs include Bank Statement Loans for the Self-Employed, Construction Loans, and Reverse Mortgages. Platinum Capital Mortgage is run and owned by broker Michael D. Rodriguez, J.D. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## PNC Bank Reviews & Ratings | Today's Home Mortgage Rates, CD Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/pnc-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: PNC Bank - Rating: 3.3/5 - Website: https://www.pnc.com/webapp/unsec/Homepage.do?siteArea=/PNCCorp/PNC/Home/Personal Content excerpt: About PNC Bank (NYSE: PNC) is the retail arm of PNC Financial Services Group, headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA. It is one of the largest banks in the United States. As of this writing, it has $271 billion in assets, making in the sixth largest US bank; PNC is also the sixth largest by deposits, and it has the third largest network of off-premise ATMs. PNC Bank operates branches in 19 states and Washington D.C. and has millions of customers across the country. It offers home mortgage loans, CDs, savings / checking accounts, and more. PNC Bank's history traces back to the 1850's, when the Pittsburgh National Corporation & Provident National Corporation, the two banks that would become PNC, were founded. In 1982, these two banks merged to form PNC Financial Corporation (both companies shared these initials) in what was America's largest bank merger. Since the 1990's, PNC Bank has grown its footprint through organic growth and acquisitions of smaller banks. One recent acquisition of note is RBC Bank, purchased in 2011. PNC Bank, a full service financial institution, offers a full suite of financial products. This includes consumer banking accounts such as certificates of deposit, standard checking and savings accounts, and money market accounts. Additionally, PNC is a mortgage lender, offering fixed and adjustable rate mortgages, along with VA loans. … ## Presidential Bank's Home Mortgage & CD Rates | Consumer Reviews URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/presidential-bank-fsb - Type: lender review - Provider: Presidential Online Bank - Rating: 3/5 - Website: http://www.presidential.com/ Content excerpt: About Presidential Online Bank is a division of Presidential Bank, FSB, and was founded in 1995 to be the Internet/direct to consumer arm of Presidential Bank. Presidential Online advertises itself as “America's 1st Online Bank” because it was the first bank in the US that let customers open accounts online. It offers mortgages and personal loans as well as high yield savings accounts, CDs and other banking products. Presidential Bank, FSB, is a community bank created in 1985. The company, headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, has grown steadily, and today the bank has over $400 million in assets. Presidential Bank has nine banking branches in the metro DC area, which means Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia. Presidential is one of the largest mortgage lenders in metro Washington D.C. The company offers a variety of home loans, including 15 and 30 yr fixed rate loans, 5/1 and 7/1 adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), and VA mortgage loans. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## PrimeLending URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/primelending - Type: lender review - Provider: PrimeLending - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://www.primelending.com/ Content excerpt: About “Home Loans, Made Simple” is the slogan for PrimeLending, a Plains Capital Company. Founded in 1986, PrimeLending has almost 1,500 loan officers and over 3,000 employees nationwide. With 15 different loan products available, chances are you’ll be able to find one that works for you. The loans that PrimeLending offers are separated into two different groups: Purchase & Refinance Loans, and Renovation Loans. Their purchase & refinance loans include adjustable rate mortgages, conventional mortgages, jumbo loans and more. Their renovation loans include escrows, jumbo renovation loans, and special products, such as a HomeStyle Renovation Loan. To sum it up in one sentence, a HomeStyle Renovation loan combines a finance or refinance with a renovation loan. This way, you only have one loan, whereas otherwise you might have to get two separate loans. Not sure where to start? PrimeLending has a wide variety of free, online calculators to help potential borrowers understand their budget and what mortgage products might be right for them. These calculators include a refinance calculator (to determine if refinancing is right for you), a rent vs. buy calculator, a discount points calculator, and more! Even if you decide to work with a different company, looking at PrimeLending’s calculators can help you understand your mortgage options better. … ## Principal Bank Ratings, Reviews | Today's CD Rates, Savings Accounts URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/principal-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Principal Bank - Rating: 1/5 - Website: http://www.principal.com/index.shtm Content excerpt: About Principal Bank, a subsidiary of Principal Financial Group (NYSE: PFG), offers individuals, businesses and institutions banking products and services, including certificates of deposit (CDs), savings accounts and more. Unlike most of the other banks reviewed on this website, Principal Bank is a direct online bank, and has been since it was created in 1998. This means that Principal does not operate brick and mortar branches that distinguish traditional banks. Though Principal Bank goes back to only 1998, its parent company, Principal Financial Group, was founded in 1879. This company, known as The Principal, offers investment management services across the globe and is a Fortune 500 member with headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa. Principal Financial has over $400 billion in assets and more than 18 million customers in 18 different countries. Principal Bank itself has over 200,000 customers and more than $2 billion in deposits. Principal Bank offers the following banking products: money market accounts; savings accounts; certificates of deposit (CDs); checking accounts; and IRAs. Within in each product, there are a variety of options, which allows customers to drill down to the exact offering that suits their needs. … ## PRMG URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/prmg - Type: lender review - Provider: PRMG - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.prmg.net/ Content excerpt: About PRMG, short for Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc., was founded in 2003. The company has grown from just three employees to more than 1,800. PRMG has about 150 branches and is licensed in 48 states - all except New York and Wyoming. They are headquartered in Corona, California. PRMG is a residential home lender and mortgage banker, and they pride themselves as being “built by originators for originators.” They offer a variety of mortgage products, including VA, USDA, Jumbo, and Conventional loans. They also offer second mortgages and home equity mortgages. For those who have a unique situation where making mortgage payments might be tough, PRMG has information about Non-QM (Non-Qualifying) mortgages and Down Payment Assistance. PRMG has an easy option to adjust their website for those who might be visually impaired or differently abled. Options for adjustment include increasing or decreasing font size, magnifying text, changing colors and saturation, hiding images, and more. Having a website that’s easy for everyone to navigate shows that PRMG truly cares about their consumers. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Provident Bank: Current Home Mortgage Rates, CD Rates & History URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/provident-direct - Type: lender review - Provider: Provident Direct, now part of M&T - Website: https://www.mtb.com/welcome/pages/index.aspx Content excerpt: About Provident Direct was the direct banking division of Provident Bank, a community lender that was headquartered in Maryland. At its peak, Provident had over 140 branches in Maryland and Virginia, 1000s of ATMs nationwide, and over $6.2 billion in assets. In late 2008, M&T Bank, headquartered in Buffalo, New York, announced that it would acquire Provident Bank for around $400 million. Provident's branch banking locations were rebranded with the M&T logo when the deal was completed in 2009. Provident Bank was originally created in 1886 as the Provident Savings Bank of Baltimore. The company served the Greater Baltimore, Greater Washington and Central Virginia communities until 2008, when it fell victim to the subprime mortgage crisis. However, M&T Bank has upheld Provident's commitment to the community in a number of ways, including its sponsorship of the National Football League's Baltimore Ravens, who play in M&T Bank Stadium. Former customers of Provident Bank and Provident Direct will find similar products and high quality service with M&T. M&T's offerings include competitive mortgage rates, high yield savings accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs), auto loans, and checking accounts. Consumers can also see how M&T interest rates compare to other lenders on RateZip. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. … ## Provident Funding URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/provident-funding - Type: lender review - Provider: Provident Funding - Rating: 1/5 - Website: https://www.provident.com/ Content excerpt: About Provident Funding was founded in 1992, and since then they have grown to serve almost 300,000 customers. They have a $60 billion loan servicing portfolio, and have provided funding for great than $100 billion dollars in the last five years. Provident Funding shows rates for 30 year fixed rate mortgages, 15 year fixed rate mortgages, 5/1 ARMs, and jumbo 30 year mortgages. Provident Funding has more than 50 offices located across the United States, however, they only originate mortgages in the following 25 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. Provident Funding also has some limitations on the types of loans they will originate for certain states. For example, they will not originate interest only loans in Illinois, nor will they originate cash-out refinance loans in Texas. If your employer works with Provident Funding’s Mortgage Benefit Program, then you can be eligible for a 0.25% discount on your home loan. This is a unique and useful benefit that employers can offer their employees, especially since every penny matters when it comes to saving money on a loan. … ## Quicken Loans Rates, Complaints, Reviews | Today's Mortgage Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/quicken-loans - Type: lender review - Provider: Quicken Loans - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.quickenloans.com/l2/wham?qls=PEK_affqlxxx.refinancex&aff_sub=7 Content excerpt: About Quicken Loans, based in Detroit, Michigan, is the leading online retail mortgage lending company in the United States. In fact, Quicken is the largest retail mortgage lender in the country, and has closed almost $500 billion in mortgage volume from 2013 to 2018. Quicken Loans offers mortgage rates for many types of loans to credit worthy borrowers. Quicken Loans offers competitive interest rates on 30 Year Fixed, 15yr Fixed, and 5/1 ARMs, as well as VA Loans. The company's history dates back to 1985, when Dan Gilbert and Ron Berman founded Rock Financial Mortgage. In 1998, Rock Financial had its Initial Public Offering (IPO), and Intuit bought the company in 1999 and renamed it Quicken Loans. Dan Gilbert and a group of investors bought Quicken Loans back in 2002, and though it is no longer associated with Intuit's Quicken brand, the company is allowed to operate under that name. Today, Quicken Loans and its sister companies, One Reverse Mortgage and Amrock (formerly Title Source), employ over 17,000 people. Although Quicken Loans is a national company with a well-known brand, it remains strongly committed to Detroit, Michigan. The company's owner, Dan Gilbert, has taken many steps to help rebuild the city through Rock Ventures, the parent company of Quicken Loans and its sister companies. You may be familiar with the commercials for Rocket Mortgage. … ## QuikFund, Inc. Licensed Mortgage Banker URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/quikfund-inc-licensed-mortgage-banker - Type: lender review - Provider: QuikFund, Inc. - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.quikfund.com/ Content excerpt: About QuikFund Inc. Licensed Mortgage Banker is a licensed mortgage lender with two locations - their headquarters in Garden City, NY, as well as another branch in Astoria, NY. They are currently licensed in seven states - CT, DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA, and FL. There are several reasons why a borrower might want to work with QuikFund. The products they offer include FHA Loans, Conventional Loans, VA Loans, USDA loans, FHA 203k Rehab Loans, Reverse Mortgages, and Jumbo Loans. On top of that, they offer refinancing where you can consolidate credit card debt, take out cash, or lower your monthly payments. Interested in working with Quikfund? Call or email them today! Or check out other lenders right here on RateZip! This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Quorum Federal Credit Union Reviews | Current Interest Rates, Mortgage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/quorum-federal-credit-union - Type: lender review - Provider: Quorum FCU - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.quorumfcu.org/default.aspx Content excerpt: About Quorum Federal Credit Union offers great rates on mortgages, consumer loans, CDs, and savings accounts to its member base of over 50,000. Like all credit unions, Quorum is non-profit and member owned. Eligibility is restricted to employees and retired employees of a number of companies and groups that you can find on the Quorum website. Family members and members of the same household as a Quorum member are also eligible to join. Membership costs just $25. Quorum Federal Credit Union was originally founded in 1934 with the motto “we can do better.” The credit union has grown steadily over the years and now has more than 50,000 members and over $700 million in assets. Although Quorum does not operate branches itself, customers can use 5,000 shared service centers - essentially branches shared with other credit unions - and more than than 80,000 ATMs across the United States. Quorum offers a wide variety of financial products, from checking and savings accounts to credit cards and home loans. The credit union offers all sorts of products, and credit unions in general tend to be more flexible than financial institutions like banks. This means that even if you cannot get approved for a mortgage at a bank or mortgage banker, you may still be able to get approved by your credit union. … ## RBC Bank URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/rbc-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: RBC Royal Bank - Rating: 2/5 - Website: https://www.rbcbank.com/index.html Content excerpt: About RBC stands for the “Royal Bank of Canada,” and though theirs is the largest branch and bank ATM network in Canada, they serve consumers all over the globe. They have branches in 36 countries, around 84,000 employees, and 16 million clients. In 2016, RBC earned $10.5 billion in income. RBC helps make banking easier for Canadians who work or travel in the United States. They’re available in all 50 states, and they don’t charge fees for Canadians to use U.S. ATMs. They also allow Canadians to transfer money between their Canadian and U.S. accounts for free. They offer both Checking and Savings accounts, and their credit cards allow you to save on foreign transaction fees. If you’re planning on moving to Canada or are new to the country, they also have helpful information about building a Canadian credit score (which is different than a US credit score). RBC Royal Bank incorporated in 1869, giving it a long and rich history. Interested visitors can read the book Quick to the Frontier, which is available to download for free on their website and details the beginnings of RBC. In 1995, RBC was the first Canadian bank to have a website. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Regions Bank URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/regions-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Regions Bank - Rating: 1/5 - Website: https://www.regions.com/personal-banking Content excerpt: About Regions Financial Corporation is a company serving 15 states throughout the Southern and Midwestern United States. Regions Bank is its subsidiary, and has around 1,500 offices and 1,900 ATMs, which serve approximately 4 million households. Regions Financial Corporation was founded in Alabama in 1971 as First Alabama Bancshares Inc. It was Alabama’s very first multibank holding company. However, as the company continued to grow and spread, it was renamed in 1994. It started out with 40 bank offices and $543 million in assets, but today Regions Financial Corporation has $125 billion in assets. The company has continued to grow, merging with Union Planters Corporation in 2004 and AmSouth Bancorporation in 2006. Regions Bank offers checking and savings accounts, money markets, and CDs, as well as credit cards, mortgages, and loans. Regions also offers insurance. In 2004, Regions Insurance Group, Inc. was formed, which offers insurance such as property, health, and life. If you live in the Southern or Midwestern U.S., consider if Regions is right for you. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Rocket Mortgage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/rocket-mortgage - Type: lender review - Provider: Rocket Mortgage - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://rocket.quickenloans.com/?qls=SRT_RTBRKTXX.RKTHIGHQLT&dclid=COvWwtHJr9cCFcpIDAodwHAF9A Content excerpt: About Rocket Mortgage is the mortgage application that forever changed the way home loans are obtained. Designed to let borrowers handle all aspects of the loan application process themselves, Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans is perfect for those who like being in control and setting their own pace. Pros: Easy online interface that can take you from application through closing, and even allows you to handle and make mortgage payments after closing Loan Experts are available to help seven days a week by both online chat and phone Only takes a few minutes to determine the loan amount you’ll qualify for Asset and financial information can be downloaded directly in most cases and shared with ease and security Cons: Does not offer Home Equity Loans/Home Equity Line of Credits. Does not offer loans for mobile/manufactured homes or construction loans. May not be best for those who want to meet their loan officer face-to-face Push Button, Get Mortgage. That’s the slogan for Rocket Mortgage, an online interface and app by Quicken Loans. By using either the app or the online form, potential borrowers can view offers that are customized to suit their needs. The application is easy and generally only takes about a half hour to complete. Borrowers can view today’s interest rates and see if they’re approved to purchase or refinance a home. … ## Roebling Bank Reviews | Current Home Mortgage Loan Rates, CD Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/roebling-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Roebling Bank - Rating: 4.5/5 - Website: https://www.thirdfederal.com/ Content excerpt: About Founded in 1922, Roebling Bank was a regional bank serving small communities in New Jersey. In July 2013, 3rd Federal Bank acquired Roebling Bank, and all five of its branches will now become 3rd Fed locations. Though it kept its original name and its focus on serving New Jersey for over 90 years, Roebling ran into financial trouble during the early 2010's. At the time of its acquisition, Roebling Bank had two locations in Florence, along with single locations in New Egypt, Westampton, and Delran NJ. As of this writing, 3rd Federal Bank will have around $850 million in assets and 19 total locations. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## R&R Loans URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/rr-loans - Type: lender review - Provider: R&R Loans - Rating: 3/5 - Website: http://www.rrloans.com/Home Content excerpt: About R&R Loans is a direct mortgage lender that was founded 25 years ago. They’re located in Folsom, California. R&R specializes in residential mortgages, and they offer 15 year, 20 year, and 30 year fixed mortgages. On R&R’s website, you can apply for a loan, get a loan quote, or learn about refinancing. If you’re applying for a loan, you can even save your application and come back to finish at a later time. This is useful especially for those with a busy schedule or who need to gather more information before submitting their application. Employees of R&R have over fifty years of experience combined. They’re there with any questions you might have about the loan process. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Reviews & Ratings of Schwab Bank | Savings Account & CD Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/schwab-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Schwab Bank - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.schwab.com/ Content excerpt: About Schwab Bank is the consumer bank of Charles Schwab, one of the best known brokerages in the United States. The Charles Schwab Corporation dates back to the 1970s, and the bank was formed in 2001 as a way to better serve existing customers and to attract new clients. Today, Schwab Bank offers competitive rate for CDs & money markets, high yield checking, great loan rates and more. The bank also offers home mortgages through well known mortgage lender Quicken Loans. One of the nicest features of Schwab Bank is that it offers accounts specifically designed to benefit investors who use the brokerage. For example, the bank offers high-yield checking and savings accounts for investors. These accounts have minimal or zero fees and generally do not require a minimum account balance. For an investor who's often moving money around, this kind of account can pay big dividends. Additionally, Charles Schwab Bank offers more traditional financial products such as regular savings & checking accounts, certificates of deposit, and money market accounts. Schwab Bank is not a mortgage lender itself, but the bank partners with Quicken Loans to originate mortgage loans, whether you're looking to purchase a home or refinance a loan. Quicken usually offers perks and incentives to Schwab clients, such as a discount on closing costs. … ## Sebonic URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/sebonic - Type: lender review - Provider: Sebonic - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://sebonic.com/ Content excerpt: About Sebonic has been in business for almost 30 years. They hold licenses in 49 states and the District of Columbia, and their headquarters are in Charlotte, NC. Sebonic is a business name of Cardinal Financial Company, a full service lender. Sebonic offers conventional loans, jumbo loans, VA loans, and USDA loans, and offers tidbits of info to help potential borrowers choose the one that’s right for them. For example, USDA loans only apply to rural properties, while VA loans are only available to veterans and active duty servicemembers and their spouses. In addition to purchase loans, Sebonic also offers refinancing. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Santander Bank (formerly Sovereign) Reviews | Today's Interest Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/sovereign-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Santander Bank - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.santanderbank.com/us/ Content excerpt: About Santander Bank, formerly Sovereign Bank, has over 700 community banking offices, and more than 2,300 ATMs, including many ATMs located in CVS pharmacies. Santander Bank holds more than $77 billion in assets. It serves primarily the Northeast states of the United States and offers home mortgages and banking products such as CDs, savings accounts, and checking accounts. Sovereign Bank's history dates back to 1902, when it was founded as a building & loan association to help the working class in Pennsylvania. In 2000, Sovereign acquired almost $12 billion in deposits, $8.1 billion in loans, 281 bank branches and 550 ATMs from FleetBoston Financial, which helped the bank expand into New England. The bank expanded into New York in 2006. Sovereign traded under the symbol SOV on the NYSE for many years. In 2008, Banco Santander, the largest bank in the Eurozone, purchased Sovereign Bank, which was undergoing financial difficulties at the time. In 2013, Sovereign Bank became known as Santander Bank. This new bank appears poised for growth, as Santander is already one of the major players in global banking. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Spring EQ URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/spring-eq - Type: lender review - Provider: Spring EQ - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.springeq.com/ Content excerpt: About One of the great things about owning real estate instead of renting is that, as you’re paying off any mortgage loans, you’re earning equity. And if you have equity in your home, then you might be eligible for a home equity loan. Spring EQ is one lender that makes such loans. Headquartered in Philadelphia, the leaders of Spring EQ have more than 100 years of total experience between them. It’s this experience that has allowed them to create an easy-to-use, successful platform. With only a few documents, you could have a prequalification decision in just a few minutes. There’s no in-home appraisal required, and no credit check necessary for a free quote. In as soon as two weeks, you can access the funds from your home equity loan: anywhere from $20,000 to $250,000! Loans for more than $80,000 even have reduced fees. With competitive fixed rates and an A+ BBB ranking, Spring EQ is definitely a lender to check out for your home equity loan needs. Spring EQ is currently available in 32 states and Washington D. C. and has plans to start business in 9 more states soon. This lender profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the lender's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Ratings for STC Capital Bank | Today's Home Mortgage & CD Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/stc-capital-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: St. Charles Bank & Trust Company - Website: https://www.stccapitalbank.com/ Content excerpt: About St. Charles Bank & Trust Company, formerly known as STC Capital Bank, is based in St. Charles, Illinois. It is a community bank serving the western suburbs of Chicago. Founded in 2006, its previous name (STC) was an acronym for Service, Trust and Commitment. St. Charles Bank offers a full range of banking products for consumers and businesses, including CDs, home loans, mortgage refinancing, and home equity loans. Today, St. Charles Bank has two locations, both in St. Charles, IL. In June of 2013, the bank announced that it will merge with the Bank of Palatine, adding a third branch in Palatine, IL. After the merger is complete, the bank will have $210 million in assets. As a community lender, St. Charles Bank has a number of interesting products to offer to local consumers. One of these products is called Relationship Checking, which is designed to reward banking customers who use St. Charles Bank for multiple services. Consumers with relationship checking can receive better rates on things such as savings accounts and home loans. St. Charles Bank is also an experienced mortgage lender with a reputation for competitive mortgage rates. Whether you are looking to buy your first home, refinance a mortgage, or pull equity out of your home with a home equity loan, St. Charles Bank has you covered. Additionally, the bank offers a wide array of mortgage products, … ## Sterling National Bank URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/sterling-national-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Sterling National Bank - Rating: 2/5 - Website: https://www.snb.com/ Content excerpt: About Sterling National Bank, a principal subsidiary of Sterling Bancorp, provides both personal and commercial banking in New York and New Jersey. Sterling has $31.4 billion in assets, $21.2 billion in deposits, and has made $19.2 billion in loans. If you choose to bank with Sterling, your options include personal checking accounts and debit cards, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, money market accounts, IRAs, and more. They also have a variety of lending options, including mortgages, lines of credit, personal loans, and credit cards. Sterling National Bank merged with Astoria Bank in October of 2017, which was originally founded in 1888. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Reviews for Stonebridge Bank | Shop Stonebridge CD Rates, Mortgages URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/stonebridge-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Stonebridge Bank - Website: http://www.stonebridgebank.com/ Content excerpt: About Western Bank merged with Stonebridge Bank in 2016. The merger kept the name Western Bank. Stonebridge Bank, a subsidiary of Stonebridge Financial Corp, offered both traditional and online banking services. Established in 1999, the bank was headquartered in West Chester, Pennsylvania and operated four banking branches. Stonebridge had auto loans, home equity loans, CDs, savings accounts and more. Stonebridge was still very much a community bank, and if you worked with this company you would receive the personalized service of a local lender. If you needed to speak to someone at the bank, you could drop into one of the four branches, call in, or email a representative. Stonebridge Bank's website also made online and mobile banking simple and efficient. All four of Stonebridge Bank's branches were located in Pennsylvania. Here are the addresses: 1. Blue Bell Branch: 721 Skippack Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422 2. Exton Branch: 629 North Pottstown Pike, Exton, PA 19341 3. Warminster Branch: 319 E. Street Rd, Warminster, PA 18974 4. West Chester Branch: 624 Willowbrook Lane, West Chester, PA 19382 Ready to see how Stonebridge home equity loan rates, CD rates, and more stack up against the competition? Use RateZip to compare Stonebridge Bank to other top lenders in Pennsylvania and across the country. … ## Suntrust Mortgage: Lender Reviews, Ratings, Complaints, BBB Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/suntrust-mortgage-rates - Type: lender review - Provider: Suntrust Mortgage - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.suntrust.com/PersonalBanking Content excerpt: About SunTrust Bank, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of the largest banks in the United States. As of this writing, the bank has over $170 billion in assets, making it of the nation's 17th largest financial services holding company. Suntrust provides retail banking services such as savings accounts, checking accounts and CDs, and the bank is also a large mortgage lender. Today, SunTrust Bank has over 1,500 retail branches and 2,800 ATMs. SunTrust's history dates all the way bank to 1811, when Farmers Bank of Alexandria, VA, the bank's earliest predecessor, was founded. SunTrust Bank was formed in 1985 as the result of a merger between the Trust Company of Georgia and SunBanks, Inc. The bank did not take on the name SunTrust, however, until 1995. SunTrust Bank is also well known for its longstanding relationship with Coca-Cola. In 1919, the Trust Company of Georiga underwrote Coca-Cola's initial public offering (IPO), and SunTrust held a large stake in The Coca-Cola Company until 2008. Today, SunTrust operates primarily out of the following states: Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. SunTrust Mortgage is a subsidiary of SunTrust and lends in Suntrust's core states as well as in neighboring states outside of its footprint. SunTrust Mortgage services loans in all 50 states. … ## Read Reviews of Susquehanna Bank | Compare Interest Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/susquehanna-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Susquehanna Bank - Website: https://www.susquehanna.net/ Content excerpt: About Susquehanna Bank, a subsidiary of Susquehanna Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: SUSQ), was a bank headquartered in Lititz, Pennsylvania. Susquehanna had around $18 billion in assets, operated more than 260 branches in four states - Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and West Virginia - and employed over 3,000 people. The bank offered competitive mortgage rates, CDs, auto loans, and other personal banking products. Susquehanna Bank offered consumers in its core four states a large variety of financial products. This included certificates of deposit (CDs), savings and checking accounts, and money market accounts. The bank was also a mortgage lender with products for individuals looking to buy a home and homeowners who wanted to refinance a mortgage. Home Buying Options: - First Time Homebuyers: HomeStart mortgage - Standard Mortgage Options: Conventional fixed-rate loans, adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) - Special Financing Options: VA loans, jumbo mortgages, Susquehanna programs for professionals & energy efficient homes Refinancing Options: - Fixed Rate Options: The Susquehanna Solution, VA Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL), 15 and 30 year fixed rate home loans - Jumbo refinancing and adjustable rate options BB&T Bank purchased Susquehanna Bank in 2014. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. … ## TD Bank Mortgage Rates | CD Rates, Reviews & Ratings for TD Bank URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/td-banknorth - Type: lender review - Provider: TD Bank - Rating: 3.3/5 - Website: http://www.tdbank.com/ Content excerpt: About TD Bank, officially known as Toronto-Dominion Bank, is an international banking operation based out of Canada. In terms of Canadian banks, TD Bank is the second largest from both an asset and a stock equity capitalization basis. With over 1,250 bank branch offices and street addresses in 15 U.S. states, TD Bank has a significant presence on the U.S. eastern seaboard as well. Further, the Bank focuses major efforts on customer convenience, making sure members can reach personal banking services in person every day of the week up to 8pm at night. Like most larger banks, TD Bank offers the full array of traditional banking services to customers. These include checking and savings accounts, home loans, car loans, consumer borrowing and credit cards, small business loans, commercial real estate financing, and retirement accounts. Additionally, TD Bank personnel can help customers with investing, asset management and insurance policies as well. On the consumer lending side, TD Bank offers all the major consumer loan types. Both auto and recreational vehicle financing are included. This also includes bank lending for personal boats. Additionally, both secured and unsecured loans are available, depending on an applicant’s credit history and background. Credit cards are also available as well. Finally, … ## Triumph Bank URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/triumph-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Triumph Bank - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://triumphbank.com/ Content excerpt: About Triumph Bank is a local bank in Tennessee that still has a nationwide presence through their mortgage products. Triumph has Conventional, VA, and Jumbo loan options for those looking to purchase or refinance a home. They also offer some unique products, such as The Elite Rate Mortgage (T.E.R.M.). T.E.R.M. offers some of their best rates and is great for those who have equity in their home and are refinancing, or for those who are purchasing a new home and putting down a 20% or larger down payment. Another unique product is their Triumph 97 program, which offers 97% financing for a home purchase or refinance, and only needs a 3% down payment. Triumph Bank makes home loans in 40 different states, but they pride themselves on being a primarily local bank. Working with a local bank can have many benefits; for example, they may be more flexible when making a loan decision. They have offices in Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, and Arlington. Triumph Bank was founded in 2006. Despite starting immediately before the financial crisis of the late 2000s, they have continued to grow and thrive. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## TrustCo Bank Ratings & Reviews | Today's Mortgage Rates, CD Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/trustco-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: TrustCo Bank - Rating: 2/5 - Website: http://www.trustcobank.com/ Content excerpt: About TrustCo Bank (NASDAQ: TRST) is a bank based in Glenville, New York. Today, TrustCo operates 134 branches in New York, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Vermont. It offers a full array of products, including mortgage loans, home equity loans auto loans, and commercial loans, and savings and CD rates are often very competitive. The company also offers business banking, commercial loans and commercial mortgages. TrustCo's slogan is “Your hometown bank.” TrustCo Bank was originally founded in 1902 in Schenectady, NY as the Schenectady Trust Company when it purchased Schenectady Bank's assets. Originally, the company served as a credit union for General Electric employees. Schenectady Trust Company grew, even through crises such as the Great Depression, until finally it was renamed TrustCo Bank in 1989, at which point its assets were in the hundreds of millions. The company has made a number of acquisitions over the years, including Home & City Savings Bank and Landmark Community Bank. Today, TrustCo Bank offers a wide array of consumer financial products. These include savings and checking accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), and money market accounts. Additionally, the bank is also a portfolio mortgage lender. This means that it keeps the home loans that it originates rather than reselling them to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or a private investor. … ## Ulster Savings Bank Reviews & Ratings | Mortgage & CD Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/ulster-savings-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Ulster Bank - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.ulstersavings.com/home/home Content excerpt: About Ulster Savings Bank is mutual savings bank based in Kingston, New York. Originally founded in 1851 - it was the first savings bank in Ulster County - the bank continues its commitment to serving its community. Ulster Savings Bank offers a full line of competitive banking products, mortgage loans, construction loans and more through its branch network in New York's Hudson Valley. Today, Ulster Savings Bank operates 14 branches in Ulster, Dutchess, and Greene counties in New York. The branches are located in Gardiner, Kingston, New Paltz, Phoenicia, Poughkeepsie, Red Hook, Saugerties, Stone Ridge, Wappingers Falls, Windham, and Woodstock, NY. If you live in Hudson Valley and are interested in a local bank with strong local ties, it would be wise to check out Ulster Bank. Want to see how Ulster Savings Bank interest rates stack up? Compare mortgages, CDs, and more on RateZip! This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Reviews, Ratings for Umbrella Bank | Compare Umbrella Interest Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/umbrella-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Umbrella Bank - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://www.umbrellabank.com/ Content excerpt: About Umbrella Bank is an online banking division of Beal Bank. Beal Bank is headquartered in Dallas, Texas and was founded in 1988. Umbrella Bank itself offers savings accounts, money market accounts, CDs, and retirement accounts. Neither Umbrella Bank nor Beal Bank itself offer loans or checking accounts to consumers, which is why Beal Bank is considered a whole bank. Today, Beal Bank includes 21 banking branches, along with UmbrellaBank.com, MyCDBank.com, and a few other affiliates. Together, the Beal Bank family has over $6 billion in assets. Interested in seeing how Umbrella Bank interest rates stack up against the competition? Find out more below, then compare Umbrella Bank to our network of top lenders! UmbrellaBank.com offers CDs, Mortgages, Savings Accounts and other banking products. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Union Bank Reviews | Union Interest Rates, Mortgages, CDs and More URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/union-bank-california - Type: lender review - Provider: Union Bank of California - Rating: 2/5 - Website: https://www.unionbank.com/ Content excerpt: About Union Bank, formerly known as Union Bank of California and a subsidiary of UnionBanCal, is one of the largest banks in the United States. As of this writing, Union Bank has around $97 billion in assets, making it America's 26th largest bank. Union Bank, headquartered in San Francisco, CA, is a full-service commercial bank, providing a broad mix of financial services to businesses and individuals. This includes home mortgages, checking & savings accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), and auto loans. Union Bank's history traces all the way back to 1864, when The Bank of California was founded in San Francisco. The Union Bank of California was formed in 1996, when Union Bank merged with Bank of California. In 1999, the bank began trading on the NYSE under the symbol UB. In 2008, Mitsubishi UFJ purchased Union Bank. Today, Union Bank operates 398 banking branches in California, Washington, and Oregon, with commercial branches in other states such as Texas and New York. Union Bank has continued to grow and plans to expand into Texas. In 2012, the company acquired Santa Barbara Bank & Trust in California. Though Union Bank does not have a national footprint, it has an enormous presence on the West Coast, and consumers who are banking in California, Washington, and Oregon will find the bank incredibly convenient. Union offers a full suite of products, … ## Union Federal Savings Bank Reviews & Ratings | Mortgages, CD Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/union-federal-savings-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Union Federal Savings Bank - Website: http://www.unionfederalstudentloans.com/ Content excerpt: About When Union Federal Savings Bank first opened its doors in North Providence, Rhode Island, in 2001, it was as a neighborhood financial institution whose fundamental philosophy was to cultivate long term relationships with its customers while providing products and services that satisfy their financial needs. Union FSB was acquired by The First Marblehead Corporation in 2006 but kept its name. The bank struggled during the financial crisis, and in 2015 it finally closed. It was acquired by Axos Bank, formerly known as Bank of Internet USA. Customers of Union Federal Savings Bank were given the option to transfer their deposits to a new bank, or work with the completely online bank. SunTrust Bank now uses the name Union Federal to offer student loans. Unlike other financial institutions, Union Federal Savings Bank chose to offer only a select few products. These products primarily consisted of money market accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs). Additionally, Union offered student loans and home mortgages. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Shop US Bank Home Mortgage & CD Rates | Read Ratings & Reviews URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/us-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: U.S. Bank - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.usbank.com/index.html Content excerpt: About U.S. Bank, which is owned by U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB), is one of the largest banks in the United States of America. As of this writing, U.S. Bank has over $429 billion in assets and employs over 67,000 people. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the company provides a comprehensive line of banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions. U.S. Bank's name dates back to 1891, when the United States National Bank of Portland was created. It can trace its roots back even further, to 1850, when the State Savings Institution of St. Louis was formed. U.S. Bank itself is the result of acquisitions and mergers among many big banks in the Midwest and West Coast, and the company that we know today formed in 2001 when Firstar Bank bought U.S. Bancorp and kept the name. Today, U.S. Bank serves 41 states and operates over 3000 banking offices and more than 5000 ATMs. U.S. Bank has a very large footprint. In fact, the only states it does not serve are Hawaii, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Georgia, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Maryland, and Alaska. Though U.S. Bank is not quite national, it certainly feels that way. U.S. Bank is one of the largest mortgage lenders in the country, and as of 2016, it’s the fifth-largest U.S. Commercial Bank. The company offers a large line of home loan products. … ## USA Mortgage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/usa-mortgage - Type: lender review - Provider: USA Mortgage - Website: https://www.usamortgage.com/ Content excerpt: About USA Mortgage is an employee-owned full-service mortgage broker with a strong national presence and a dedication to providing great customer service. With options for both purchasing and refinancing, USA Mortgage offers competitive rates and expert mortgage knowledge. What is a full-service mortgage broker? Full-service mortgage brokers, like USA Mortgage, handle all of the processing and customer service for mortgages from application all the way through closing. They aren’t a lender and don’t make or fund loans; instead, the mortgage loan will be owned and serviced by the lender who makes it. One of the benefits of working with a mortgage broker is the wide range of lenders and loan products that they partner with, allowing you to choose and compare the loans that work best for you. What does it mean to be employee-owned? As an employee-owned company, USA Mortgage has over 750 employee-owners, each of which has a real stake in the company’s success. That means over 750 people who want to deliver the very best possible service to their customers. Less than one in 200 companies in the United States are employee-owned, making USA Mortgage a stand-out company! For those interested in purchase loans, USA Mortgage has options for conventional mortgages as well as USDA, FHA, Reverse, VA, Jumbo, Renovation, Construction, … ## USAA Savings Bank Home Mortgage Rates | Reviews & Ratings for USAA URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/usaa-savings-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: USAA Bank - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.usaa.com/inet/ent_logon/Logon Content excerpt: About USAA, otherwise known officially as United Services Automobile Association, represents a well-known insurance provider and financial services company that serves active and retired military members as well as their family, spouses and children. It has been in operation since 1922, when the organization was first started by military officers to self-insure themselves for automobile use when no else would due to their military activity being considered high-risk. USAA offers insurance, banking products including mortgage, credit cards, auto loans, checking and savings accounts. While USAA today is restrictive in membership, it has a wide customer base (9.4 million approximately as of 2012) and a very strong reputation for service delivery. However, aside from all the insurance policies and investment options USAA offers customers, it also provides banking services as well. USAA Banking includes both checking and savings services, including access to credit cards and personal consumer loans for car and home financing. The USAA Savings program relies heavily on an Internet-banking model, allowing customers to deposit funds electronically and to withdraw the same way or through a network of affiliated ATMs nationwide. The USAA Savings program offers both traditional savings as well as certificates of deposit. Further, depositors don’t pay any fees to maintain accounts, … ## Valley National Bank Reviews & Ratings | Mortgage & CD Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/valley-national-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Valley National Bank - Rating: 3/5 - Website: http://www.valleynationalbank.com/ Content excerpt: About Valley National Bancorp, is a $16 billion financial institution operating out of New Jersey. With headquarters in Wayne, NJ, the corporation owns and operates its primary subsidiary, Valley National Bank through 210 different branch offices predominantly in the New Jersey state area. This includes 16 counties and 146 different communities in the northern and central state area. The Bank also has offices in Manhattan as well as other parts of New York City as well and Long Island. Representing one of the big regional banks for the New Jersey area market, Valley National Bank is committed to providing a customer service level that can be reached around the clock 24/7. The institution has been in operation for over 80 years, and came through the 2008 Recession with solid activity and books. The institution was originally started under a different name, Passaic Park Trust Company, in 1927. A few years later it was changed to the Bank of Passaic and Trust Company. Then, 20-something years later the bank changed its name again with an acquisition of Bank of Allwood. Finally, in the mid 1970s, the Institution went on a series of acquisitions and purchases that progressively broadened access and market reach. Valley National Bank was created as a new name for the operation which has since acquired a community bank at a rate of almost one a year since then. … ## VALoanCaptain URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/valoancaptain - Type: lender review - Provider: VALoanCaptain - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.valoancaptain.com/ Content excerpt: About Whether you're an active duty personnel, a veteran, or the spouse of a veteran, VA Loans can be a great resource when purchasing or refinancing your home. One website that specializes in VA Loans is VALoanCaptain. VALoanCaptain does not originate loans; rather, similar to RateZip, they provide a platform that allows the consumer to compare interest rates and offers from different lenders. VALoanCaptain currently has 7 different lenders that partner with them, which creates an opportunity for interested consumers to see multiples rates. VALoanCaptain also provides free information, guides, and consultations regarding VA Loans. Their goal is to make the VA Loan process as easy as they can for the men and women who have worked so hard to protect our country. You can even download a free e-book about VA Loans from their website! Learn more about VA loans and read about VA lenders right here on RateZip! ## Veterans United URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/veterans-united - Type: lender review - Provider: Veterans United - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://www.veteransunited.com/ Content excerpt: About Pros: Cons: • Experienced VA lender • Available in all 50 states • 24/7 customer service • Other loan options available • Easy online platform for pre-qualifying and applying • No home-equity loans or HELOCs Current and former members of the military and their spouses have a unique resource available to them that they should take advantage of when purchasing a home: VA loans. VA loans are issued by qualified lenders, but guaranteed by the Department of Veteran Affairs. They don’t require down payments, have no mortgage insurance, have no prepayment penalty, have a limit on closing costs, and normally have great rates and terms! If this sounds appealing to you, be sure to check out Veterans United, the top VA lender in the nation for 2016 through 2019! Veterans United has branches in 18 different states, but offers services to all 50 states, making them a national lender. They’re also considerate of servicemembers who may be overseas or have difficult schedules, and have customer service representatives available 24/7. This means that you can call or email them at a time that works for you. Their average customer rating is 4.7 out of 5 stars, so you know that their other customers are happy with them! In addition to VA loans, Veterans United also offers other government and conventional loans, including FHA and USDA. This means that if a VA loan isn’t right for you, … ## Virtual Bank Reviews & Ratings | Today's CD Rates, Saving Accounts URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/virtual-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Virtual Bank - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://www.virtualbank.com/Default.html Content excerpt: About Virtual Bank is owned by Sabadell United Bank, headquartered in Miami, which is a branch of Europe's Banco Sabadell. Virtual Bank is online only, having built an online banking process from the ground up. Created for security and ease of use, both our clients and staff have all the tools and information they need right at their fingertips. While most traditional banks have adapted and cobbled together legacy systems and an online interface, VirtualBank has one platform, built to do business online and founded to save clients' money on everyday banking. The bank offers a small but effective basket of products - money market accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), and checking accounts. Virtual Bank's slogan is simple: "We're building your wealth, not bank branches." At traditional banks the cost involved in building bank branches is passed along to banking customers in fees and rates. VirtualBank does not have a network of branches and operates efficiently through electronic and ATM transactions. This creates operating cost efficiencies which enable us to offer you higher yields on deposit accounts. And isn't that what banking is all about? The bank also offers its customers access to personal bankers. Maximizing your money is a big part of Virtual's promise, but there's an equally important reason to bank with VirtualBank, personal service. … ## Wachovia Bank: Today's Mortgage Rates, CD Rates, History URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/wachovia - Type: lender review - Provider: Wachovia, a Wells Fargo Company - Website: https://www.wellsfargo.com/about/corporate/wachovia Content excerpt: About Wachovia was a diversified financial services company that provided a broad range of retail banking and brokerage, asset and wealth management, and corporate and investment banking products and services. At its peak, the company was one of the largest providers of financial services in the United States, with retail and commercial banking operations in 21 states from Connecticut to Florida and West to Texas and California, and nationwide retail brokerage, mortgage lending and auto finance businesses. Wachovia was acquired by Wells Fargo in 2008; it was the 4th largest bank in the United States but nearly failed during the financial crisis, necessitating its sale. Wachovia's history dates back to the founding of the Legacy Wachovia Corporation in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 1879. The company grew successfully for over 100 years, but in 2008 Wachovia became a victim of the subprime mortgage crisis, partially because of its own activities and partially from loans originated by Golden West Financial, which the company acquired in 2006. To prevent Wachovia from failing, the bank was purchased by Wells Fargo, a deal that closed in December, 2008. The move greatly expanded Wells Fargo's footprint, especially on the East Coast. Consumers who remember the Wachovia name will be happy to know that its legacy carries on under Wells Fargo, which offers home mortgage loans, … ## Reviews for Wallkill Valley Federal | Today's Mortgage & CD Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/wallkill-valley-federals - Type: lender review - Provider: Wallkill Valley Federal Savings & Loan - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.wallkill.com/Home.aspx Content excerpt: About Wallkill Valley Federal Savings & Loan is a 100 year old financial institution serving Wallkill, Milton, and Highland Falls, New York. The company operates three branches and has over $160 million in assets. Wallkill Valley Federal's slogan is “treating you like a neighbor, not a number”, and the company does indeed remain deeply focused on providing great service to the New York communities that it serves. The Wallkill Valley Federal Savings & Loan Association was greatest in 1913. Like all savings & loans, the company's goal was to take deposits and provide home loans to the community. Though Wallkill Valley Federal has grown consistently over the years, it did not begin expanding outside of Wallkill until 2011, when it opened a branch in Milton, NY. The Highland Falls branch is the result of Wallkill Valley's acquisition of Highland Falls Federal Savings & Loan in 2012. Wallkill Valley offers its communities personal banking, business banking, and loans. Under the personal banking division, you will find consumer products such as checking & savings accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), IRAs, and money market accounts. Under the loan category, you will find home mortgages, home equity loans, and more. Unlike most mortgage lenders, Wallkill Valley Federal is what is known as a portfolio lender. … ## Washington Federal Bank for Savings: Mortgage Rates, CD Rates, Reviews URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/washington-federal-bank-for-savings - Type: lender review - Provider: Washington Federal - Website: https://www.treasury.gov/about/organizational-structure/ig/Audit%20Reports%20and%20Testimonies/OIG-19-009.pdf Content excerpt: About Washington Federal Bank for Savings was a 100 year old bank serving the Chicagoland area. It closed in 2017 after massive amounts of fraudulent activity were discovered. The bank claimed its mission was to provide Chicagoans with highly competitive deposit and loan products, including consumer purchase and refinance mortgage loans, CDs, and savings accounts; the company's slogan was “banking made personal.” Washington Federal Bank for Savings operated two branches in Chicago: one on 2869 South Archer Avenue, and the other on 1410 West Taylor Street. Washington Federal was founded in 1913 in Bridgeport by Emil S. Gembara. His grandson, John F. Gembara, was the bank's Chairman of the Board, President & CEO until the bank's closing. Gembara and other unnamed employees falsified loan payments and other documents at Washington Federal. They were able to hide the fraud behind the bank's small, community-focused facade. Because the bank appeared to be simple and low risk, first-time examiners were sent there for "training;" thus, they missed what more experienced examiners might have been able to catch. The bank also used a manual system to document loans instead of automated, which made it easier to falsify and hide payments. They also claimed that, in their over one hundred years in business, they had never had a single credit loss. This is very suspicious, … ## Washington Federal Bank Reviews | Find Today's Mortgage & CD Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/washington-federal-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: WaFd Bank - Website: http://www.washingtonfederal.com/ Content excerpt: About WaFd Bank, formerly Washington Federal Bank, a subsidiary of Washington Federal, Inc. (NASDAQ: WAFD), is a savings and loan headquartered in Seattle, Washington. The bank operates more than 180 banking branches in eight western states: Washington, Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and New Mexico. WaFd consumers can “count on” the bank for checking and savings accounts, retirement accounts, mortgages and HELOCs, business and commercial banking, and insurance products. WaFd's history dates back to 1917, when the Ballard Savings and Loan was founded. It merged with Bothell's Washington Federal Savings and Loan in 1958, keeping the Washington Federal name, and its current structure was established in 1995. The bank has grown largely through mergers and acquisitions. A few notable examples include Provident Federal Savings and Loan, First Mutual Bank, Horizon Bank, and Charter Bank. These deals have helped WaFd grow its footprint into new states and increase its footprints in states where it already had a presence. In the late 2010s, WaFd (pronounced "Wah-Fed") updated its name and logo. The reason behind this change is many people who weren't familiar with "Washington Federal" assumed it was part of the federal government, it was only an investment firm, or it only did business in Washington DC. None of this is true, … ## Washington Mutual, now Chase Bank | Today's Home Mortgage, CD Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/washington-mutual-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Washington Mutual, now Chase Bank - Website: https://www.chase.com/wamuwelcome3/ Content excerpt: About Washington Mutual Bank (often abbreviated WaMu), a subsidiary of Washington Mutual, Inc., was a savings and loan headquartered in Seattle, Washington. In spite of its illustrious history, the bank was one of the largest and most notable victims of the subprime mortgage crisis - at the time of its failure in 2008, WaMu was the nation's largest S&L, the 6th largest bank, and WaMu remains the biggest bank failure in the history of the United States. JPMorgan Chase Bank purchased Washington Mutual Bank in 2008 and absorbed the company's many banking branches under the Chase brand Washington Mutual was founded in 1889 as the Washington National Building Loan and Investment Association in Seattle. The company grew organically and through mergers and acquisitions over the years, eventually rising to become one of America's largest and best known banks. WaMu's enduring legacy includes: * Pioneering the first home loan in 1890. * Starting the first shared ATM network in the 1970s. * Offering full-service brokerage and mutual funds through our stores in the 1980s, and was the first bank to do so. * Developing a new retail store design in the late 1990s, the first full-service branch design to be issued a U.S. patent. * Completing the first covered bond issuance by a U.S. Bank in Europe. Washington Mutual, unfortunately, was also deeply involved in subprime mortgage loans, … ## Webster Bank Reviews, Ratings | Today's Mortgage Loan & CD Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/webster-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Webster Bank - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.websteronline.com/personal/personal-homepage.html Content excerpt: About Webster Bank is a financial institution that has been in operation for over 75 years and offers banking services to both consumers and businesses. With over 3,000 employees dedicated to helping customers meet their financial goals, Webster Bank is now one of the 35 largest banks in the United States. Headquartered in Connecticut, Webster Bank serves four states - CT, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York. Webster Bank was founded in 1935 in the Depression years when the idea of starting a new bank was probably considered ludicrous. With $25,000 borrowed from private sources, which was quite a sum at the time, Harold Webster Smith established First Federal Savings of Waterbury with the primary goal of helping the community with home loans. The same man who started this institution lasted as the Bank’s CEO until 1987, and as chairman in 1995. At that time the Bank was renamed Webster Bank and seven years later it was listed on the public markets as WBS. All of that growth has produced an institution with a working basis of $20 billion in tracked assets. Webster Bank now provides services to consumers, companies, government agencies and institutions. They also provide services in their traditional markets of home lending as well as expanded services in financial advice and planning, trust planning, and investing. … ## WEI Mortgage LLC URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/wei-mortgage-llc - Type: lender review - Provider: WEI Mortgage - Rating: 2/5 - Website: http://www.weicorp.com/ Content excerpt: About WEI Mortgage LLC started as a mortgage brokerage in 2002. They originated residential loans in the D.C. area. Then, in 2003, WEI transitioned to being a direct mortgage lender. Angelo Gordon and ArcHome Loans later acquired WEI Mortgage in 2016. From their humble beginnings, WEI has expanded to cover 45 states. Their headquarters are in Virginia, but they also have offices in New Jersey. By focusing on providing great service to their consumers, WEI was able to remain strong even during the financial crisis of the late 2000s. WEI has an A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau. Whether you’re a new customer looking for your first home loan, or you want to check your refinancing options, WEI is there to help. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Wells Fargo Mortgage Rates, Refinance Rates | Read Reviews, Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/wells-fargo - Type: lender review - Provider: Wells Fargo - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.wellsfargo.com/ Content excerpt: About Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is one of the largest financial institutions in the United States, offering bank, insurance, investment, mortgage and diversified lending operations to institutions and individuals. It has over 8,600 retail locations through the United States and internationally. Wells Fargo holds over $1.9 trillion in assets and has over 200,000 employees. As of this writing, it is the third largest bank in terms of assets, and has been listed as the leading retail mortgage lender in the nation. Among the big bank home mortgage lenders, Wells Fargo Bank represents a huge player. The bank was one of the few institutions that tried to refuse taking federal bailout funds during the 2008 Recession and were practically ordered to do so by the federal government. What is not known by many, however, is that Wells Fargo was bought out by Norwest Bank in 1998. The buying company simply adopted the name for the new, consolidated organization. As a lender, Wells Fargo services both private individuals as well as business, commercial entities and organizations. The Bank is organized into three different business sections, two of which directly affect lending to consumers. The first part of the Community Banking arm deals primarily with consumer banking needs, such as checking, savings, CDs, investments, and consumer lending with credit cards and minor, … ## Ratings, Reviews for Wesbanco Bank | Shop Mortgages, CDs URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/wesbanco-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Wesbanco Bank - Rating: 3/5 - Website: http://www.wesbanco.com/ Content excerpt: About WesBanco Bank (NASDAQ: WSBC) is a multi-state bank headquartered in Wheeling, West Virginia. The bank's corporate slogan is “by all accounts, better.” As of this writing, WesBanco has around $6 billion in assets, 111 branch locations throughout West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, and more than 1300 employees. The bank offers home mortgage loans, home equity loans and lines of credit, car loans, CDs, a variety of checking & savings accounts, and retirement options. WesBanco's history dates back to 1870, when The German Bank was founded; the Dollar Savings Bank was founded in 1887. These two financial institutions merged in 1933 to form the Wheeling Dollar Savings & Trust Co. WesBanco was formed in 1968. The bank has grown steadily over the years, both with organic growth and mergers & acquisitions. One recent merger of note is with Fidelity Bancorp, which was based in Pittsburgh. Wesbanco remains committed to providing high quality financial products and customer service to its local communities in West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. You can apply for almost anything online - certificates of deposit (CDs), savings accounts, checking accounts, and so on - and it's also possible to begin applying for a mortgage loan via Wesbanco's online banking platform. The bank's mortgage division offers nine basic mortgage products, … ## West Capital Lending URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/west-capital-lending - Type: lender review - Provider: West Capital Lending - Website: https://westcapitallending.com/ Content excerpt: About West Capital Lending is a mortgage broker with licenses in thirteen states (Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, New Hampshire, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Washington). With a streamlined mortgage process, competitive rates, and dedicated customer service, West Capital Lending aims to provide the best possible service to its customers. West Capital Lending offers a variety of mortgage loans, including Conventional, FHA, VA, Non-QM, Interest Only, and Reverse. Each of these loans have their own unique purposes and benefits, and a West Capital Lending loan officer can help you determine which loan is right for you. Ready to start comparing rates? Check out other lenders and compare mortgage rates right here on RateZip! This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## West Coast Bank / Columbia Bank Reviews | Mortgages & CD Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/west-coast-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: West Coast Bank - Website: https://www.columbiabank.com/ Content excerpt: About West Coast Bank (WCB), a subsidiary of West Coast Bancorp (formerly NASDAQ: WCBO), was a community bank headquartered in Lake Oswego, Oregon that served central Oregon and western Washington. At its peak, the bank had $2 billion in deposits and 63 branch banks. West Coast Bank ran into difficulties beginning in 2009, when regulators sent out a warning about the bank's lending, and WCB was sold to Columbia Bank System in 2012. Customers who trusted West Coast Bank will find many of the same products and high quality customer service at Columbia Bank, another community lender dedicated to serving America's northwest. Columbia offers checking accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), savings accounts, and more. The bank also offers auto loans, personal loans, home equity loans and lines of credit, and mortgages. As a mortgage lender, Columbia Bank offers fixed-rate and adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), jumbo loans, and government loans such as VA and USDA home loans. Ready to see how Columbia Bank interest rates fare against other lenders in the Pacific northwest and nationwide? Find out on RateZip! This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. RateZip is an independent publisher of bank information. ## Westbound Bank Reviews & Ratings | Interest Rates from Westbound URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/westbound-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Westbound Bank - Website: https://www.westboundbank.com/ Content excerpt: About Westbound Bank was an active part of the communities of Katy and Bellaire, Texas. Founded in 1997, Westbound expanded rapidly throughout the Houston, Texas area with its commitment to quality banking and strong customer service. The bank's philosophy was that “banking is about people.” Westbound assigned a personal banker to each of its customers. Westbound Bank had three branch locations and $129 million in assets. The branches were located in Katy, Bellaire, and Houston, TX: 1. 655 Grand Parkway, South Katy, Texas 77494 2. 5231 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire, Texas 77401 3. 13225 FM 529, Suite 107, Houston, Texas 77041 At this size, Westbound was very much a community bank rather than a national bank in the mold of JPMorgan Chase or Bank of America. The benefit of working with a community bank over one of these larger alternatives is that all functions of the bank, from customer service down to the decision making on your loans, take place within the community. This typically leads to faster turn around times and better service. Westbound Bank may have been dedicated to serving communities within Texas, but it offered all of the financial products that you would find at a national bank. This included certificates of deposit (CDs), checking & savings accounts, investments, and money market accounts. In 2018, Westbound Bank was merged with Guaranty Bank & Trust. … ## Wilmington Trust History | M&T Bank Home Mortgage & CD Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/wilmington-trust - Type: lender review - Provider: Wilmington Trust / WTDirect.com - Website: https://www.mtb.com/personal/Pages/Index.aspx Content excerpt: About Wilmington Trust Corporation (formerly NYSE: WL) was a financial services holding company that provided a variety of banking and financial services. It still provides Wealth Advisory Services for high-net-worth clients in 22 countries, and Corporate Client Services for institutional clients in 81 countries. Its wholly owned bank subsidiary, Wilmington Trust Company, which was founded in 1903, was one of the largest personal trust providers in the United States and the leading retail and commercial bank in Delaware. Wilmington Trust was acquired by M&T Bank in 2010, and all of its operations except for Wealth Advisory have been folded into the M&T name. At its peak in the 2000s, The Wilmington Trust family of companies had offices throughout the U.S. and abroad, employing more than 2,500 people worldwide. With its affiliate money managers, the Wilmington Trust family of companies had nearly $40 billion in assets under management. The story of Wilmington Trust was one of consistent profitability and growth over the long term with low volatility and stability during various economic cycles. WTDirect was Wilmington Trust's online savings arm. WTDirect offered high yield deposits, primarily targeted at consumers with larger deposits. This bank profile is not an endorsement or advertisement for the bank's products and services. … ## Wyndham Capital Mortgage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/wyndham-capital-mortgage - Type: lender review - Provider: Wyndham Capital Mortgage - Website: https://get.wyndhamcapital.com/get-started/?utm_click_table=ratezip&utm_source=ratezip&utm_medium=click-table&utm_term=7 Content excerpt: About Wyndham Capital Mortgage NMLS ID #2948 was started in 2001 by Jeff Douglas, who remains its current CEO. In the early 2000s, much of the mortgage process was still slow, confusing, and had to be completed in person with physical papers. Douglas saw a need for innovation and founded Wyndham Capital Mortgage with the goal of creating a digital, automated mortgage process that allowed for faster service and greater customer care. Today, Wyndham Capital has thousands of five-star reviews from customers satisfied by their quick, dedicated service and great mortgage products. Some benefits of getting a mortgage through Wyndham Capital include their priority pre-approval, guaranteed on-time closing, and eClosings. With priority pre-approval, you can generate a property-specific pre-approval letter instantly. Pre-approval letters show property sellers that you’re serious about purchasing and have the assets necessary to get a mortgage. Their $10k On-time Closing Guarantee means that if you don’t close on time and it’s their fault, Wyndham Capital will pay as much as $5,000 to you and $5,000 to the seller, for a total of up to $10,000. And finally, with eClosings, you can close your mortgage anywhere that’s convenient to you as long as you are eligible - no need to show up to any appointments in person! In addition to fixed-rate purchase and refinance loans, … ## Zillow Home Loans URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/zillow-home-loans - Type: lender review - Provider: Zillow Home Loans - Website: https://www.zillowhomeloans.com/get-started/?source=RateZip&utm_source=RateZip&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=7#/refinance/location Content excerpt: About You may already know Zillow as the website that allows you to search for houses and apartments for sale and rent. Zillow Home Loans, part of Zillow Group, was created to bring that same sense of customer service to those looking to make their housing dreams a reality through easy, affordable purchase and refinance loan options. Headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, Zillow Home Loans is licensed in every state except for Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming. If you need a low-down payment, Zillow Home Loans has several options that might work for you. Qualified veterans may be eligible for a VA loan with a 0% down payment, no PMI, and reduced closing costs. Those looking for a conventional loan have a minimum required down payment of 3%, while those who want a FHA loan have a minimum down payment of 3.5%. Whichever loan you chose, Zillow Home Loans responds quickly to all deadlines and keeps you updated every step of the way. Are you ready to compare lenders? Check out Zillow Home Loans and other mortgage companies right here on RateZip! ## Zions Bank Reviews, Ratings | Today's Home Mortgage Rates, CD Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lender-reviews/zions-bank - Type: lender review - Provider: Zions Bank - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.zionsbank.com/ Content excerpt: About Zions First National Bank is a subsidiary of Zions Bancorporation which operates through about 125 offices and 150 ATMs in 10 Western and Southwestern states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington. Zions Bank, which is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, has around $54 billion in assets, making it the 37th largest bank in the United States. As a full-service bank, Zions offers commercial, installment and mortgage loans; trust services; foreign banking services; electronic and online banking services; automatic deposit and nationwide banking and transfer services; as well as the more familiar checking and savings programs. Zions history goes back to 1873, when Brigham Young formed Zion's Savings Bank and Trust Company. Young, of course, was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Zions First National Bank was formed in 1957, wen Zion's Savings Bank merged with the Utah Savings and Trust Company and the First National Bank of Salt Lake City. The LDS Church sold its interest in the bank in the 1960s, and Zions Bank has been a publicly traded company since 1966. Today, Zions Bank offers a wide array of financial products. Whether you are looking for a certificate of deposit, savings account, checking account, or money market account, Zions has you covered. Additionally, … ## Aetna Insurance Company | Life Insurance Quotes by Aetna URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/aetna-life-insurance - Type: insurance review - Provider: Aetna Life Insurance - Rating: 4/5 - Website: http://www.aetna.com/ Content excerpt: Many people are familiar with Aetna as a health insurance company and provider, but Aetna also offers insurance lines of coverage that cover group life insurance plans as well as employee benefits. Aetna line of insurance products are predominantly in the area of health, however, including plans for individuals as well as employer-provided insurance, college applicants, part-time or independent workers, government plans, traditional health coverage plans, and association plans such as those sponsored by labor unions or fraternal societies. As a major player in the health care insurance market, the company typically appears in large scale negotiations with entities employing thousands upon thousands of workers. Combination plans offered by the company can address a full package of benefits for the workplace, enhancing job recruitment through benefits offered. The company is present nationwide in all fifty states of the union, which makes it easy for customers to move around and still retain coverage when traveling or relocating. Aetna also provides some of the most accessible self-directed plans where individuals can take advantage of their federally-approved tax shelter health savings plans. While Aetna does market heavily to large organizations, it also serves and designed products for smaller organizations as well, … ## AIG Direct URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/aig-direct - Type: insurance review - Provider: AIG Direct - Status: no longer operating since 2024 - business now with Corebridge Direct - Rating: 3/5 Content excerpt: Founded in 1995, AIG Direct is a subsidiary of AIG, one of the most prominent insurance companies around the globe. They currently cover over 1 million families. AIG Direct offers multiple life insurance options, including term life insurance, whole life insurance, guaranteed issue whole life insurance, quality of life insurance, and universal life insurance. Those interested in a term life insurance policy can chose a term length of 10 years, any amount between 15 to 30 years, or 35 years. Even better, their term policies can be converted to a permanent life insurance policy if desired by the policy holder. ## American Family Insurance | Term Life Insurance | Get Quotes Online URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/american-family-insurance - Type: insurance review - Provider: American Family Insurance - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.amfam.com/ Content excerpt: As a private mutual company, American Family Insurance offers coverage and financial protection for automobiles, property, casualty, health, homeowners, commercial and business coverage, and life insurance. American Family also offers customers services in both retirement savings management as well as general investment planning. The company has a well-established reputation as a corporation and ranks among the Fortune 500 with almost $7 billion in annual revenue. American Family began in 1927 under a different name, Farmers Mutual Insurance Company. In the early days the only coverage offered was auto insurance coverage. The business model was a conservative one expecting better profits from farmers who didn't drive as much as urban drivers and in the winter stayed home. Since that time the company has expanded its product line greatly, migrating to city and urban customers, particularly organizations and businesses. Today, American Family Insurance includes a number of subsidiaries: Amfam.com Incorporated American Family Securities American Standard Insurance Co. of Ohio American Family Brokerage American Family Life Insurance Company American Standard Insurance Company American Family Mutual Insurance Company The company offers a broad array of life insurance products, including the big three (term, universal, and whole life). … ## American National URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/american-national - Type: insurance review - Provider: American National - Rating: 2/5 - Website: https://www.americannational.com/wps/portal/an/home Content excerpt: True to their name, American National is available nationwide. They offer multiple types of insurance, including life insurance, annuities, business insurance, health insurance, auto insurance, homeowners insurance, renters insurance, and more! Like most large insurance companies that offer multiple products, you can bundle your policies with American National. Those who are interested in their life insurance can choose from term (for 5, 10, 15, 20, or 30 years), whole, universal, indexed universal, or guaranteed universal life insurance. Policyholders will also find that their policies can be flexible; for example, term policies can be converted to permanent life insurance, and some policies have loan access, allowing the policyholder to borrow from a portion of their coverage if necessary. For those who need health insurance, American National offers Medicare Supplement Insurance, Recovery Care Insurance, Limited Medical Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, and Accident Insurance. These policies vary in what exactly they’ll cover, but all of them can be used to help cope with expenses associated with illness or an accident. For more unique scenarios, American National offers specialty products, including recreational insurance (which includes coverage for specialty vehicles, such as boats or motorcycles), farm & ranch insurance, and involuntary unemployment insurance. … ## Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance | Wellpoint Insurance Co URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/anthem-blue-cross-life-health-insurance - Type: insurance review - Provider: Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.anthem.com/ Content excerpt: As an insurance provider and company, Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance no longer exists. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield were produced through a merger between The Associated Group and Community Mutual Insurance Company. The hybrid then merged again with Blue Cross in 2004, expanding greatly to take advantage of cost benefits with size. The company merged again with Wellpoint in the same year. Once the merger was finalized, the company released a number of products to capture different levels of the market. Blue Access Economy was one such product, aimed at offsetting the drooping economy and rising costs of healthcare at the time. These plans packed a large deductible cost for a customer and were intended to be used only as catastrophic coverage. Not surprisingly, Anthem marketed heavily at the time to college-age students and post-college people with generally good health in their age bracket but still needing some basic safety net coverage. Wellpoint today is now what's left of Anthem, and the company is primarily focused on providing health benefits to U.S. customers. The company delivers policies through distribution networks and focuses on selling employer health care plans to companies. Wellpoint also sells specialty disability policies and life insurance to individuals, as well as dental, behavioral health, and vision. … ## Assurity Life Insurance Company | Insurance Rates & Online Quotes URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/assurity-life-insurance-company - Type: insurance review - Provider: Assurity Life Insurance Company - Rating: 3/5 - Website: http://www.assurity.com/ Content excerpt: Being in business for over 121 years, Assurity Life Insurance has maintained a long-term focus on providing customers financial security as well as earning generational referrals from existing customers to new ones. The target market for the company is the middle class, particularly customers needing financial solutions for both themselves as well as family members. That said, Assurity works to provide insurance products to businesses as well as individuals. The company sells its products through networked insurance brokers rather than company agents and salespeople. These brokers in turn sell policies to both individuals and companies, depending on what's needed and how well it matches up with available policy products. These brokers provide the one-on-one service, meeting the personal touch that allows Assurity products to move through the market. Assurity values the long-term relationship with customers because it generates reliable revenue streams and the referrals bring in new customers. The success of each customer sale then reinforces the company's ongoing financial strength. The company's total assets as of 2011 measured $2.4 million. Surplus assets totaled $282,000 in the same year. Assurity's start comes from three other insurance companies coming together and joining forces in 2007, all working from the Lincoln, Nebraska, … ## Bestow URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/bestow - Type: insurance review - Provider: Bestow - Status: no longer sells directly to consumers; the review links to Lantern - Rating: 3/5 Content excerpt: If you’re looking for fast, easy, online life insurance, Bestow may be the company for you! With quotes in just a few seconds and coverage available in only a few minutes, Bestow is the very definition of speedy service. They also don’t require medical examinations or lab tests, which can be annoying to schedule and get done. And with affordable policies that offer between $50,000 and $1,500,000 in coverage, Bestow has products for every budget! Bestow was founded in 2017 and started selling its first policies in 2018. Currently, they offer term life insurance with terms of 10 or 20 years. While they have plans to offer longer terms, they currently do not offer any other term lengths, nor do they offer permanent life insurance (such as universal or whole life insurance). Bestow only works with A+ rated insurance carriers, and provides customer support through phone, email, or live chat. They offer services almost nationwide - in every state except for New York. They also attempt to process all claim documents within 10 days. By working hard to process everything, from quotes to claims, quickly, Bestow truly puts their clients first. While Bestow is fast and convenient, they may not be perfect for everyone. Bestow doesn’t allow riders to be added to their policies. They also don’t offer life insurance products for individuals older than 55 and a half, … ## Fabric URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/fabric - Type: insurance review - Provider: Fabric - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://imp.i200065.net/rnnA2R Content excerpt: Fabric is a life insurance company designed for parents. It strives to make insurance and financial planning as easy as possible, since parents already have enough things to worry about. It takes about 10 minutes to apply with Fabric, which offers term insurance. Fabric has an app that easily allows policyholders to view and organize their financial and legal information. This app has bank-level security, which includes factors such as automatic lockout and biometrics. In addition, Fabric also allows consumers to create wills for free, ensuring greater peace of mind. Fabric also knows the importance of giving back. With their term health insurance, they will match 1% of the policy holder’s death benefit coverage and donate that amount to charity. Terms for term insurance offered by Fabric include 10, 15, and 20 years, and the coverage amount is between $100,000 and $5 million. Some products may not be available in NY or MT, so be sure to check which options are available to you! ## Federated Life Insurance Company | Online Insurance Quotes URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/federated-life-insurance - Type: insurance review - Provider: Federated Life Insurance - Rating: 2/5 - Website: https://www.federatedinsurance.com/ Content excerpt: Federated Mutual Insurance Company, also known as Federated, provides property insurance coverage products. The company is based out of Minnesota, and operates in the 48 continental states of the U.S., including Washington D.C. Federal Mutual has been in existence since approximately 1904. At the turn of the century a number of local businesses joined together to form a combined insurance group for its members, particularly for fire insurance. That association then grew into a bona fide insurance company, serving more and more customers in a broader market range over time. Today, Federated Mutual provides lines of coverage in business property, casualty, life insurance, disability plans, limited health insurance (critical illness), homeowners insurance, car and auto protection, and health insurance. The company's marketing plan targets a number of different business industries ranging from construction workers to convenience and luxury businesses to automotive businesses. Specifically, business clients for Federated products frequently include the categories of: Tire dealers Auto dealers and part wholesalers Printers Building contractors Petroleum Marketers and related sellers Funeral directors and businesses Equipment dealers Machine and tooling businesses Jewelry retailers ## Reviews & Ratings for Gerber Life Insurance | Gerber Policies URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/gerber-life-insurance - Type: insurance review - Provider: Gerber Life Insurance - Rating: 3/5 - Website: http://www.gerberlife.com/ Content excerpt: Many people are familiar with Gerber baby foods as well as TV commercials pitching the company's life insurance for babies. Established in 1967 as a subsidiary under the Gerber Products Company, the company grew to becoming the most prolific and successful direct-marketing company selling insurance products to consumers. Gerber is also the biggest player and leading seller of juvenile and baby life insurance products. At any given time today, Gerber includes in its portfolio over $37 billion in life insurance policies provided in both the U.S. and Canada. The company doesn't rely heavily on agents or insurance brokers. Instead, Gerber uses direct contact via mailers, product inserts, advertising, and magazine inserts for connection with customers. The consumer fills out the information or calls a phone number, and the life insurance policy is then established for the given child covered. All correspondence and documentation are then handled by mail and now by email and Internet. Gerber focuses its message on health babies and happy parents, marketing its juvenile life insurance plans as a way of peace of mind. As a twist on the growing cost of higher education, Gerber now markets life insurance plans that also put funds away for college savings, allowing parents to use some of the funds paid for college costs later on, … ## GMAC Insurance - National General Insurance | Online Insurance Quotes URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/gmac-insurance - Type: insurance review - Provider: GMAC Insurance - Status: no longer operating since 2013 - business now with National General, an Allstate company - Rating: 2/5 Content excerpt: GMAC Insurance, originally founded in 1939, became National General Insurance in September of 2013 when it was acquired from Ally Financial by the Maiden Holdings. National General offers affordable automobile insurance, RV insurance and home insurance to consumers in all 50 states. GMAC Insurance was best known for its Auto insurance and had been in this business for over 60 years. National General continues that legacy under a new name, and it is one of the largest insurance underwriters in the United States. The National General Insurance website contains helpful tips for controlling the cost of your insurance policy. For example, according to the company's website, auto theft devices, safety devices and low annual mileage are some of the best methods for keeping premiums low on car insurance. National General also educates consumers on insurance basics and each of the major categories of policies that it provides - vehicle, home, and commercial vehicle insurance. You can compare National General insurance policies to other top companies using RateZip's financial search engine. Get started now! ## Guardian Life Insurance Company Ratings & Reviews URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/guardian-life-insurance - Type: insurance review - Provider: Guardian Life Insurance - Rating: 4/5 - Website: http://www.guardianlife.com/ Content excerpt: Guardian Life Insurance Company of America represents a strong player in the insurance industry, establishing a seat among the Fortune 300. The insurance company first began operations in 1860 in the City of New York, and has grown to be the fourth place player in terms of company size in mutual life insurance industry. Guardian today sells insurance products ranging from long-term care to life insurance as well as health and dental plans to clients. The company also administers a number of financial tools and plans including 401K plans and annuity products. Not known to many people because it operates with different company names, Guardian today manages one of the biggest networks for dental coverage serving more than 120,000 different businesses. To handle all of this constant, annual work, the insurance provider employees over 5,000 people and has 3,000 representatives and insurance brokers affiliated with its product brands as well. Guardian was relocated from a prior business to an address in Manhattan in 1911 and continued to operate out of the same location for 85 years. The company then expanded facility locations to Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Washington and Massachusetts. Guardian Insurance has since merged with Berkshire Life Insurance Company of America and bought out RS Investments as well for added market and account expansion. ## Hartford Life Insurance Company Reviews & Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/hartford-life-insurance - Type: insurance review - Provider: Hartford Life Insurance - Rating: 4/5 - Website: http://www.thehartford.com/ Content excerpt: Long known as the company with the reindeer stag for a logo, Hartford Life Insurance today operates as a Fortune 500 business with 1.5 million people covered on its plans and almost $22 billion in annual revenue. The Hartford represents and ranks among, not surprisingly, the U.S. largest insurance companies operating in the global market. Products offered by the Hartford include employee benefit plans, group plans, life insurance, auto coverage, homeowners policies, and business or commercial insurance. On the financial side the Hartford also provides financial investment tools, professional market and investment advising, annuity products, mutual fund investing and tax-shelter college saving plans. The Hartford is not a new company, having been established as far back as 1810 in the town of its name, Hartford, Connecticut. Like other insurance companies that have their roots in the 19th century, the Hartford originally represented a consortium of local businesses who banded together to provide each other fire insurance. Since that time until 1959 the company primarily played in the property and casualty field. At the end of the 1950s, however, the Hartford went into selling life insurance as well after purchasing the Columbian National Life Insurance Company. … ## Haven Life URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/haven-life - Type: insurance review - Provider: Haven Life - Status: no longer operating since 2024 - business now with MassMutual - Rating: 4/5 Content excerpt: Haven Life has an easy application that is completely online! They offer term life insurance with terms of 10, 15, 20, and 30 years, as well as annuities. However, they do not offer any permanent life insurance options. Certain riders and benefits also won’t be available in specific states. One of the benefits to working with an online application and not an agent is that you can save on commission costs. Another benefit to getting insurance with Haven Life is the Haven Life Plus rider option, which gives the policy holder access to a fitness app with thousands of different workout styles and music choices, an app to promote better sleep, an online will, and more. Is Haven Life right for you? Compare it with other insurance companies right here on RateZip! ## Ladder URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/ladder - Type: insurance review - Provider: Ladder - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.ladderlife.com/ Content excerpt: Ladder is unique in the life insurance game because their policies can change and adapt as your priorities change. Since life insurance is all about planning ahead, it makes sense to get a policy that can be adjusted as need be. Keep on reading to learn more about Ladder and see if they’re right for you! Founded in 2015, Ladder is run by people who have first-hand experience of the benefits of life insurance. Ladder CEO Jamie Hale tragically lost his father as a child. The life insurance policy that his father had was able to help the family through some tough times. Now, he runs Ladder with that premise in mind - to help families in the way that his father helped him. Ladder offers term life insurance with 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 year terms. Anyone between the ages of 20 and 60 can apply, but the sum of the policy holder’s age plus the term length cannot be more than 70. (So, for example, a 50-year old individual could apply for a 10 year term but not a 30 year term.) Ladder is available nationwide, and offers up to $8 million in coverage. Ladder does not offer universal or whole life insurance, nor do they allow riders to be added to their policies, so those looking for permanent life insurance options may want to work with a different company. ## LeapLife URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/leaplife - Type: insurance review - Provider: LeapLife - Status: no longer operating - business now with Policygenius - Rating: 2/5 Content excerpt: LeapLife, powered by Engine by MoneyLion , allows consumers to search through multiple different policies to find the one that best fits each customer's needs. They only work with A and A+ rated carriers, such as Bestow, Haven Life, and Legal & General, and through LeapLife, a person can get a quote and apply for a policy in minutes! A medical examination or lab tests may be necessary for certain policies. While LeapLife primarily offers term life insurance, they have some options for permanent life insurance as well. However, to talk about these options, you will have to contact the company directly rather than going through their online platform. LeapLife is available nationwide, which means that you can apply for coverage no matter where you live. Is LeapLife right for you? Compare them to other insurance companies right here on RateZip! ## Legal & General URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/legal-general - Type: insurance review - Provider: Legal & General - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.bannerlife.com/ Content excerpt: Legal & General is a global insurance company with a long history. With headquarters in London but offices all throughout Asia, Europe, and the United States, Legal & General has been in operation since 1836. They have been operating in the US since 1949, over 70 years. The two key benefits of Legal & General are their low prices and their flexibility. They offer life insurance plans for as low as $7 per month. Legal & General also offers insurance policies for individuals up to 95 years of age - applicants as old as 75 can purchase new coverage through this carrier. They also work with individuals with pre-existing conditions who may not qualify for insurance with other companies. Legal & General also offers premium waivers, policy conversions, flexible payment schedules, and accelerated death benefit riders, adding to their flexibility. While Legal & General has low prices and flexibility, they don’t have as many product offerings as other companies; they only offer term life insurance and universal life insurance. Some of their policies will require a medical examination, though there are no medical exam requirements for those who qualify. When applying for coverage through Banner Life, there’s also the chance for instant approval and/or accelerated underwriting. Every insurance company has benefits and drawbacks. With Legal & General, you will get low cost and flexibility, … ## Lincoln National Corp Reviews & Ratings | Life Insurance Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/lincoln-national-life-insurance - Type: insurance review - Provider: Lincoln National Life Insurance - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.lincolnfinancial.com/ Content excerpt: Lincoln National Corporation functions as a holding company, allowing the business to acquire and obtain multiple sub-businesses underneath the corporate umbrella. As a result, Lincoln National has corporate ownership of multiple insurance companies as well as investment management businesses all affiliated with the same organization. Established in 1968 as a corporation, Lincoln National originally began operations as a business in 1905. Today, the company functions with four main elements as follows: Lincoln Retirement Life Insurance Investment Management Lincoln Financial Media In addition, Lincoln National has a number of subsidiaries operating underneath the holding company umbrella, which include: First Penn-Pacific Life Insurance Company Lincoln National Life Insurance Company Lincoln Life & Annuity Company of New York Lincoln Financial Distributors Lincoln Financial Advisers and Sagemark Consulting First Penn-Pacific Life Insurance Company Lincoln Financial Media Lincoln life insurance policies are, as a result, sold through multiple offices and subsidiary companies, depending on the particular regional market. Additionally, the company also takes advantage of independent insurance brokers as well as company agents. Insurance products include all traditional categories of insurance products including term, permanent and whole life policy plans. … ## Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company | Quotes & Policies URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/massachusetts-mutual-life-insurance - Type: insurance review - Provider: Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance - Rating: 4/5 - Website: http://www.massmutual.com/ Content excerpt: Another among the insurance companies that can trace their roots back to the 19th century, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance was first established in 1851. Today, the company has grown to 1,800 office locations and a worldwide clientele base of 13 million customers. Because of this size, the company sits within the top 100 of the Fortunate 500 and produces annual revenues exceeding $25 billion. Additionally, the company manages investments and various types of insurance policies worth almost $450 billion. Because of the conservative approach and successful business model used, Massachusetts Mutual has been able to pay dividends annually to policyholders since 1860. Not every insurance company or corporation can make a similar claim. Massachusetts Mutual still retains whole life insurance policies as its core product, but the product portfolio for both businesses and individuals also includes disability insurance, other types of life insurance, long-term care coverage, retirement plans, and annuity products. The company also offers extensive financial adviser services for clients as well. Today the company has gone multi-national with expanded reach around the world. Massachusetts Mutual operates offices across the U.S. but also in seven other countries. Locations include multiple countries in Asia as well as Chile and Luxembourg. ## Metropolitan Life Insurance Policies | Compare Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/metropolitan-life-insurance - Type: insurance review - Provider: Metropolitan Life Insurance - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://www.metlife.com/ Content excerpt: MetLife Incorporated is the main corporation that Metropolitan Life Insurance Company works under. Better known as MetLife, using the cartoon characters of Snoopy and Charlie Brown in TV commercials as created by the late cartoonist, Charles Shultz, the life insurance branch operates as a subsidiary company underneath the overall holding company of MetLife, Inc. Today the company has grown so large with all its subsidiaries included that MetLife Holding represents the world's largest organization providing insurance products. At last count, the company was reputed to have more than 90 million customers around the world. And all of this growth has happened since the company was first started in 1868. Originally, MetLife operated as a stock life insurance company until 1915 when it mutualized. For almost one hundred years, the company did not operate on the public market after that date until 2000, when it first issued its public stock to external stakeholders. Today, MetLife operates in six of the world's contintent regions, operating as a leading insurance provider in all areas of business presence. For example, in the U.S. MetLife is the largest provider of life insurance policies, hitting position rank 90 in the Fortune 500. Ironically, MetLife went through a process of demutualization in 1998, reversing the direction the company had taken almost 85 years before. … ## Nationwide Mutual Insurance Reviews, Ratings & Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/nationwide-life-insurance - Type: insurance review - Provider: Nationwide Life Insurance - Rating: 4/5 - Website: http://www.nationwide.com/ Content excerpt: Operating under the holding company umbrella of Nationwide Mutual Insurance & Affiliated Companies, Nationwide Life Insurance functions as a subsidiary based in Ohio but operates in facilities located in five different states across the U.S. The original company was first started in 1925 under the name and operation of the Farm Bureau Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, based on Ohio, with 1,000 policyholders (not to be confused with Farmers Insurance). Only agricultural farmers at the time were able to purchase the offered policies. Eventually, that original limitation was relaxed, widening the company's reach and market potential. However, since the early days of the company, Nationwide has become a big enough operation to help Columbus Ohio build a professional team stadium in the late 1990s. Nationwide had the muscle to build the facility and far more, because the company has since become one of the biggest entities offering personal and business insurance and financial products globally. The main insurance policy business offered today by Nationwide still remains primarily property and casualty, but the company still continues to gain quite a bit of business in the life insurance market as well as retirement planning and financial advising. ## New York Life Insurance | Compare Rates & Policies URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/new-york-life-insurance - Type: insurance review - Provider: New York Life Insurance - Rating: 5/5 - Website: http://www.newyorklife.com/ Content excerpt: Among the mega-companies in life insurance, New York Life Insurance holds a seat at the table, both nationally in the U.S. as well as globally. The company manages almost $290 billion in assets plus $15 billion as a company-specific surplus. This financial strength as well operation puts New York Life at rank 71 in the Fortune 500 and well inside the top 100 companies. It also means that New York Life is the highest ranked privately-held business in the U.S. as well. Given the above performance, New York Life is one of a trio of insurance companies that are able to hold and enjoy the reputation of being ranked superior in financial strength rating from Moodys, AM Best and Standard & Poor. Originally started in 1845 as a shipping insurance company for nautical risk, New York Life Insurance Company was renamed to its familiar moniker four years later. From the same beginning, the company has operated from day one out of New York City. It was also one of the few companies that anticipate the 2008 economic crisis and positioned itself and its assets into cash and government bonds to avoid loss on the open market. By August 2007, the company's collective premonition had begun to come true. … ## Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Reviews & Ratings URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/northwestern-mutual-life-insurance - Type: insurance review - Provider: Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance - Rating: 5/5 - Website: http://www.northwesternmutual.com/ Content excerpt: Based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Northwestern Mutual operates in both the diversified insurance and financial services markets, providing both life insurance and risk policies as well as mutual funds and group plans to customers. Additionally, Northwestern Mutual is heavily involved in financial advice and investment tools for its customers as well as retirement saving and estate planning. Similar to New York Life, Northwestern is among the three life insurance companies to be able to brag about top, superior strength ratings from the four big rating agencies. That reputation provided valuable marketing leverage until 2011 when Standard & Poors lowered the Northwestern's rating score. Ironically, the downward rating adjustment had more to do with the U.S. government's risk being lowered due to partisan fighting in Congress at critical budget negotiation points than it did with the company's own management performance and asset risks. However, Northwestern, like many other insurers, carries large policies with the government and those affected by government spending, so it suffered accordingly when the U.S. federal rating was downgraded. While the company is not the largest provider of life insurance in the U.S. as of 2012, it is the largest direct provider to customers in the country, with $2 trillion represented in its collective portfolio of insurance policies. … ## Pacific Guardian Life Insurance | Rates & Quotes URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/pacific-guardian-life-insurance - Type: insurance review - Provider: Pacific Guardian Life Insurance - Rating: 2/5 - Website: http://www.pacificguardian.com/ Content excerpt: With company headquarters based in ""paradise"" to some, or at least Honolulu, Hawaii for legal reference, Pacific Guardian Life Insurance has been in the business of selling insurance policies and covering financial risk since 1961. Enjoying a bit of a captive market, since many other insurance players didn't want to extend beyond the continental 48 states in the U.S., Pacific Guardian has expanded and grown itself over the years to be the state leader in life insurance and disability coverage in Hawaii versus all other insurance players that operate in the territory. Pacific Guardian Life Insurance offers its customers a full range of life insurance products as well as employee benefit plans for businesses. The company allows purchases of its policies by clients through independent insurance brokers as well as its own sales agents. As a result, Pacific Guardian enjoys an extensive network of sales personnel in practice, covering clients in the Hawaiian Islands as well as Pacific states, the Northern Marianas, and the island of Guam. Because of the number of different cultures and backgrounds of customers in the company's market, many of Pacific Guardian's agents also provide multi-lingual services, making them even more attractive to customers who don't speak English. Often, such customers prefer businesses that cater to their home language, … ## Pacific Life URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/pacific-life - Type: insurance review - Provider: Pacific Life - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.pacificlife.com/ Content excerpt: Pacific Life was started in California in 1868, and adopted their signature whale icon in 1997. While their product offerings vary depending on what state you’re in, Pacific Life usually offers term life insurance, universal life insurance, life insurance with long-term care benefits, and whole life insurance for businesses. Those interested in term life insurance can pick between level-premium or annual renewable term life insurance. With level-premium, the yearly cost will stay the same for the life of the policy (a term of 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years). With annual renewable, you can choose to renew your life insurance every year, but the price will increase. Those who would rather have universal life insurance can choose from universal or indexed universal. Pacific Life also offers survivorship insurance, which is a policy that covers two people and pays a death benefit after both people pass away. Life insurance with long-term care benefits can help the covered individual pay for extended care needs, if required. The death benefit for this policy is reduced if it is used to pay for long-term care, but if long-term care benefits are not required, the death benefit will be the full amount. You can read all about their product offerings online, as well as get a quote for term coverage. However, Pacific Life does not offer online quotes for all policy types. ## Physicians Mutual Life Insurance | Compare Insurance Rates on RateZip URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/physicians-mutual-life-insurance - Type: insurance review - Provider: Physicians Mutual Life Insurance - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.physiciansmutual.com/ Content excerpt: Physicians Life Insurance Company operates as subsidiary business to Physicians Mutual Company, which was established at the turn of the 20th century in 1902. The company was originally established and intended to just serve doctors and dentists in its original business model. Since that time, Physicians Mutual broadened its insurance services, providing far more risk protection offerings and enjoying wider markets as a result over the years. Today, the company offers coverage in both general and supplemental health care coverage as well as federally-approved Medicare plans for senior clients. These services are provided to customers nationwide, with no regional restriction. The company sells policies to both small businesses as well as individuals, including employee group plans. The life insurance component of Physicians Mutual sells both traditional life insurance as well as annuity products to clients. To deliver these plans to customers, Physicians Mutual relies on approximately 1,000 company agents to sell and update plans with customers and consumers interested in buying related policies. All the traditional life insurance category types are offered, including term, permanent and whole life. ## Policygenius URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/policygenius - Type: insurance review - Provider: Policygenius - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.policygenius.com/ Content excerpt: Shopping for insurance can be confusing, even during the best of times. That’s why Policygenius, an unaffiliated insurance broker, has stepped up to help consumers make informed decisions that work with their budget and gets them the coverage they need. Policygenius helps consumers compare quotes for a wide variety of insurance policies. Consumers can search for life insurance, homeowners or renters insurance, auto insurance, disability insurance, pet insurance, health insurance, long term care insurance, and more! Other more specific policies include vision insurance, jewelry insurance, identity theft insurance, and travel insurance. Policygenius shows rates from top insurance companies all across the United States, allowing consumers to compare and get the coverage that works best for them. Policygenius also has licensed insurance advisors to help answer any questions you might have. This service is free to use, and because their advisors are paid via salary and not commission, they’re dedicated to finding the solutions that work best for you. Besides getting trusted advice, another reason that it’s good to work with an insurance advisor is that you can skip the annoying robocalls, salespeople, and AI bots that often accompany insurance shopping. Consumers can also shop completely anonymously, without having to provide their contact information. … ## Protective URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/protective - Type: insurance review - Provider: Protective - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.protective.com/ Content excerpt: Protective was founded more than 110 years ago in Birmingham, Alabama. They offer term life insurance, whole life insurance, and multiple types of universal life insurance. Those interested in term life insurance can choose from terms between 10 and 40 years, for coverage from $100,000 up to $50 million. This term life insurance can be converted to a permanent plan with no medical exam required. Some states also allow a terminal illness rider to be added to the policy. The Custom Choice universal insurance policy is a unique plan that’s designed to be an alternative to term life insurance. It allows the covered individual to pay a set premium for coverage for a specified period between 10 and 30 years. After this period, the premium will remain at the same price, but the amount of coverage will decrease. Other types of universal life insurance that Protective offers include universal life, variable universal life, and indexed universal life. ## RiverSource Life Insurance | Today's Insurance Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/riversource-life-insurance - Type: insurance review - Provider: Riversource Life Insurance - Rating: 3/5 - Website: http://www.riversource.com/ Content excerpt: RiverSource operates as a subsidiary of a larger holding company, Ameriprise Financial. The company functions with three branches of diversified financial products that cover annuities, investment advice and related management, and general insurance. All three areas are based out of Minnesota. The company heavily markets its financial side with 80 different mutual funds, a quarter of which are institutional products to other businesses such as retirement plan administrators. The remainder of mutual funds available from RiverSource are sold both to companies as well as to individuals. Overall, the investment side of the house managed $60 billion in 2005. All of this activity is operated through RiverSource's boutique offices, taking advantage of a small, personal approach to win over customers big and small in various location markets strategically placed in Boston, Minneapolis and London-Europe. The insurance side of the company focuses on marketing and selling life insurance products as well disability insurance to individuals. The company's product line covers both variable and fixed life insurance policies, emphasizing financial security from personal, financial risk of clients. Again, through the boutique office model, the company aims to capture clients and customers that prefer a cozier, … ## Sentry Life Insurance Reviews & Ratings | Today's Insurance Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/sentry-life-insurance - Type: insurance review - Provider: Sentry Life Insurance - Rating: 2/5 - Website: https://www.sentry.com/ Content excerpt: Recognizable by the Revolutionary War patriot sentry logo the company has used for decades, Sentry Life Insurance itself has been around for more than a century since it was started in 1904. Operating as a mutual insurance company based out of Wisconsin, Sentry Life was another insurance consortium started by a number of hardware associations to give a group insurance protection to the association members. Over time, the company has evolved to now being a full-fledged insurance business corporation offering the full portfolio of consumer risk protection in property-casualty, auto insurance, health coverage, group health, and life insurance to individuals and business clients. Sentry companies and subsidiaries include the following: Sentry Insurance a Mutual Company Sentry Life Insurance Company Sentry Life Insurance Company of New York Sentry Equity Services, Inc. Sentry Select Insurance Company Sentry Casualty Company Sentry Lloyds of Texas Dairyland Insurance Company Dairyland County Mutual Insurance Company of Texas Dairyland Cycle Insurance Middlesex Insurance Company Patriot General Insurance Company Parker Services, L.L.C. Parker Centennial Assurance Company Peak Property and Casualty Insurance Corp. Viking County Mutual Insurance Company Viking Insurance Company of Wisconsin As of 2012 the company boasted over $11 billion in assets, rounded, … ## Sproutt URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/sproutt - Type: insurance review - Provider: Sproutt - Status: no longer operating since 2024 - Rating: 2/5 Content excerpt: Rather than offering their own life insurance policies, Sproutt is an insurance broker, which means that they help consumers search for policies that work best for their scenarios. Sproutt isn’t just any insurance broker, however. They’re specifically designed to reward healthy lifestyle habits. Sproutt has a Quality of Life Index tool, which assesses an individual’s Movement, Sleep, Emotional Health, Nutrition, and Balance, to give them an overall score. Making healthier choices (for example, keeping a regular sleep schedule) will increase your score. In turn, having a higher score helps you save on life insurance! If you need help making healthier choices, the Quality of Life Index tool can also give you suggestions to improve your score and your quality of life. Those interested can take the Quality of Life questionnaire for free on Sproutt’s website and see where their choices place them on the Quality of Life scale. While Sproutt can be a great choice for younger, healthy adults, not everyone will qualify for coverage. Older adults, those with pre-existing medical conditions or too many unhealthy habits, and those who engage in multiple high-risk behaviors may be declined. Those who decide to work with Sproutt can apply for life insurance (either term or permanent), no-exam life insurance, or guaranteed life insurance. … ## Standard Life Insurance | Insurance Rates from the Standard URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/standard-life-insurance - Type: insurance review - Provider: Standard Life Insurance - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.standard.com/ Content excerpt: The Standard, a common company name short for the Standard Insurance Company, is a corporation operating in the business of both risk coverage insurance and financial advice and management services. The company is headquartered in Oregon and operates nationally, selling to 8.5 million policyholders in 49 states as well as the District of Columbia. The overall organization employs 30,000 people who work every day to provide support and processing of the millions of policies in the company's portfolio. The life insurance branch of the company operates with an ""A"" rating and has been functioning since 1928. The same insurance wing brings in approximately $2.1 billion in revenue annually and manages portfolio assets of $14.5 billion. Operating through two companies, Standard Insurance Company and the Standard Insurance Company of New York, the Standard represents one of the older names in the industry of corporate insurance. The Standard was first establish in 1906 and reached a centennial mark in 2006. Before you commit to Standard Insurance, or any company for that matter, make sure to get free online quotes and compare your options. You can use RateZip.com's free search engine for just this purpose. ## Symetra Life Insurance Reviews, Ratings & Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/symetra-life-insurance - Type: insurance review - Provider: Symetra Life Insurance - Rating: 3/5 - Website: http://www.symetra.com/Pages/home.aspx Content excerpt: Symetra Life Insurance is based out of the state of Washington and began operations in 1957. Its website boasts of its 50 years of experience in the industry. Ten years later, the company's assets passed the $1 billion mark for the first time and grew ten times bigger by 1995. In 2004, it became an independent company known as Symetra Financial Corporation. However, it was only until 2010 that Symetra first placed itself on the open stock market exchange with a company stock release. It trades on the NYSE under the symbol SYA. Today, Symetra operates with a base of $20 billion in assets, but the company's major holding is now an external consortium made up of Berkshire Hathaway (i.e. Warren Buffet) and Mountains Insurance Group. Today, Symetra has over $29 billion in assets and 1.7 million clients in the United States. As of this writing, the company maintains a A ("Excellent") rating from A.M. Best, an A ("strong) rating from Standard & Poors, an A3 ("Good") rating from Moody's, and an A+ ("strong") from Fitch. ## Thrivent Financial Life Insurance Rates | Compare Quotes URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/thrivent-financial-life-insurance - Type: insurance review - Provider: Thrivent Financial Life Insurance - Rating: 4/5 - Website: https://www.thrivent.com/ Content excerpt: As an insurance company, Thrivent Financial is a bit different from the norm of the insurance industry. Where much of the industry competition operates under a for-profit business model, Thrivent Financial operates instead as a non-profit fraternal society headquartered in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Long-affiliated with the wider network of the Lutheran church in the U.S., the various company branches of Thrivent function as chapters and incorporate 2.5 million members nationwide. The company offers members a portfolio of services including banking, disability insurance, mutual funds and life insurance. Thrivent is not an old company, being first established in 2002 as a combination of the Lutheran Brotherhood and the Aid Association for Lutherans. The company has since grown exponentially, reaching the Fortune 500 ranking and now managing $75 billion in assets. Unlike other players in the insurance industry, Thrivent makes a point about the fact that the company is not for-profit, putting its net proceeds back into church programs and community benefit projects. Instead, being membership-owned, the company's primary focus is to improve service delivery to members, growing the company's capability to help members more. ## TruStage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/trustage - Type: insurance review - Provider: TruStage - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.trustage.com/ Content excerpt: TruStage offers multiple different types of insurance, including Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Auto, Property, and Health. They have covered approximately 20 million individuals, and partner with over 3,500 credit unions nationwide. Credit union members may be able to take advantage of discounts when applying for insurance with TruStage; however, members have to work through their credit union rather than applying with TruStrage on their website directly. Those interested in their Life Insurance will be happy to hear that medical examinations are usually not required, and that they can be covered in just a few days. They offer options for term, whole, and guaranteed acceptance life insurance, but have a relatively low coverage maximum - only $300,000. TruStage’s options for Property Insurance include Home Insurance, Condo Insurance, and Renters Insurance. Individuals who need both home and auto insurance may be able to bundle their policies through TruStage. The benefits of bundling often include discounts as well as making your policies easier to manage and pay for. Is TruStage insurance right for you? Compare with other insurance companies right here on RateZip! ## USAA Life Insurance Company | Insurance Rates & Quotes URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/usaa-life-insurance-company - Type: insurance review - Provider: USAA Life Insurance Company - Rating: 5/5 - Website: https://www.usaa.com/inet/ent_logon/Logon?redirectjsp=true Content excerpt: USAA, otherwise known as United Services Automobile Association, has been in existence prior to 1924, serving military members with insurance services ranging from automobile insurance to life insurance. Today, the company represents a Fortune 500 corporation based in Texas but with branches in all 50 states as well as U.S. territories. The company still directly caters to military service people and veterans, but it also accepts policies and agreements with service member relatives, spouses and offspring as well. In terms of life insurance, USAA offers all three of the major life insurance types, including term, universal and whole life insurance. Under term life insurance, USAA’s policy covers a member for the duration of the policy, usually 10, 20 or 30 years. After the term is over then the member has to buy a new policy to be covered again, and USAA keeps the premiums paid entirely. Under universal and whole life, policies allow members to build up a cash reserve invested in USAA for the duration of the policy. The member has coverage over his lifetime as long as the premiums are paid timely. Payments under universal can change over time, but under whole life the cost remains the same once the policy is started. USAA also offers a hybrid version, allowing members to start with term life insurance, which is far more affordable, … ## Western and Southern Life Insurance | Insurance Quotes & Policies URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance/western-southern-life-insurance - Type: insurance review - Provider: Western and Southern Life Insurance - Rating: 3/5 - Website: https://www.westernsouthernlife.com/ Content excerpt: Better known in the insurance industry and to its customers as Western & Southern, Western & Southern Financial Group is a holding company based out of Ohio that controls a large group of smaller financial service businesses and related insurance companies. Combined, the entire portfolio of subsidiaries represents assets of $52 billion as of 2011. As a result, the corporation and its holdings combined rate in the top ten life insurance companies according to Standard & Poor. Western & Southern has been in the insurance industry since 1888, representing yet another player that started in the 19th century. Today, the company sits in the Fortune 500, but just barely at rank 482. Along with life insurance, the various companies under Western & Southern also sell annuities, investments and asset management, and mutual funds as well. Among the various subsidiaries in the life insurance business owned by Western & Southern, the following are included: The Western & Southern Life Insurance Co Western-Southern Life Assurance Co Columbus Life Insurance Co Lafayette Life Insurance Co IFS Financial Services Fort Washington Investment Advisers Eagle Realty Group Integrity Life Insurance Co. National Integrity Life Insurance Co. According to Standard & Poor, Western & Southern carries a AA+ rating for its financial strength and performance. Unfortunately, … ## Best Interest Rates in Alabama | Compare AL Banks on RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/alabama-al - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Alabama / AL Content excerpt: Alongside Mississippi to the west sits the southern state of Alabama, which also shares a small portion of the Gulf coast as well as plenty of inland territory. The state is bordered by Tennessee, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi. Alabama is a state that marries its old agrarian history with modern industry and innovation. Long known for cotton and other agriculture, Alabama today is powered by a diverse economy that includes automotive manufacturing, aerospace and defense, steel and iron production, chemicals, forestry and agriculture. The state has become one of the nation's leading automotive-exporting states, home to assembly plants for Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Honda and Toyota, while Airbus builds commercial jets in Mobile and Huntsville anchors a major aerospace and defense corridor. Alabama is also rich in early American history and natural beauty, with much of the state still relatively undeveloped. Major employers across Alabama include Redstone Arsenal and the surrounding defense and space community, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and UAB Hospital, Maxwell Air Force Base, and state and local government, alongside a broad mix of health care, education, … ## Alaska Guide to Bank Rates | AK Mortgages, CDs & More | RateZip URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/alaska-ak - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Alaska / AK Content excerpt: Alaska, often called the Great North, is the largest state in the Union by land area, much of it wilderness and undeveloped territory. For many who love to live in or on the edge of the natural world, Alaska is home. The state's economy is anchored by oil and gas production, but federal and military spending, commercial fishing and seafood, tourism, and mining all play major roles. Major population centers are located around Anchorage and Fairbanks, while much of the interior remains remote and sparsely settled. For those who want to live close to nature and away from suburbia, Alaska offers no shortage of striking locations and properties. Despite its immense size, Alaska is one of the least populous states in the country. As of 2025, the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development estimated the state's population at roughly 739,000 people, and about half of all Alaskans live in or around Anchorage. The state also has one of the smaller economies in the nation by total output, though its economy is unusually resource-dependent and its per-capita income tends to rank near the middle of the pack among states. … ## Banking in Arizona: Learn More | Find Your Rate in AZ | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/arizona-az - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Arizona / AZ Content excerpt: Long known as a destination for snowbirds as well as aviation lovers, Arizona is a major desert state that soaks up the sun and bakes in the summer. With picturesque landscapes, the state has often been used as a movie set for westerns that needed tall geological spires in the background and red sand for a setting. Arizona is also home to the famous Grand Canyon as well as Meteor Crater, one of the best-preserved impact craters in the world. With major population centers in Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff, the state is known for its universities and research institutions. For those looking for a retirement home in a warm climate, Arizona fits the bill, with extensive networks that help retirees settle in and find the right community. Arizona is one of the larger states in the country. As of 2025, its population of more than 7.5 million people ranks it roughly 14th among the states, and it remains one of the fastest-growing states in the nation. Arizona also has one of the larger U.S. state economies, with output that rivals that of many smaller nations. While government is a major employer, the state is also home to a broad mix of private employers across health care, technology, … ## Compare Arkansas Banking Rates: Mortgages & More | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/arkansas-ar - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Arkansas / AR Content excerpt: Tucked into the heart of the South, Arkansas - the Natural State - is known for its Ozark and Ouachita mountains, its rivers and hot springs, and a landscape that ranges from Delta farmland to forested highlands. The state's economy rests on a diverse base that includes agriculture, retail, food processing, transportation and logistics, aerospace and equipment manufacturing, and natural resources. Arkansas is home to the headquarters of several major corporations, including retail giant Walmart in Bentonville, Tyson Foods in Springdale, and trucking company J.B. Hunt in Lowell. Much of the state's population and employment is concentrated in Central Arkansas around Little Rock and in the fast-growing Northwest Arkansas region. Arkansas has a number of universities and growing metro areas, many of them clustered along the state's major highway corridors. Beyond those hubs, the state remains largely rural, with farmland and small towns connected by county roads. The Cities of Arkansas With a population of roughly 3.1 million people as of 2024 Census estimates, Arkansas is the 33rd most populous state in the country. … ## California Guide to Mortgage | Compare CA Interest Rates | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/california-ca - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: California / CA Content excerpt: One of the most desirable states to live in the United States is California. Unparalleled access to nature and a progressive lifestyle and business culture are some of the top-of-mind reasons why people are proud to live in this state. Who could forget that this is the state that is home to Apple, Google and Hollywood! California is the home of movie stars and tech entrepreneurs. Nowhere is American enthusiasm, ingenuity and optimism more alive than in the state of California. As of 2025, California's economy is the largest of any U.S. state and ranks among the largest in the world, spanning technology, entertainment, agriculture, trade and tourism. Home values in California remain among the highest in the country. As of 2025, the typical California home is valued at roughly $750,000 to $800,000, according to Zillow's Home Value Index, though prices vary widely from the coastal metros to the inland regions. A home in California won't come cheap, but RateZip.com can help you find an affordable mortgage to make living in this beautiful state just a little bit easier. The Cities of California California is a big state - it is the third largest in America by area, … ## Mortgage Rates in Colorado | CA Auto Loans, CDs & More | RateZip URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/colorado-co - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Colorado / CO Content excerpt: Well-known as an international winter retreat and ski destination, Colorado is also a family state, offering multiple cities and neighborhoods with amenities and long-term community benefits. Famous for Aspen and Vail, Colorado also gives residents major access to some of the country's largest and most beautiful national parks, along with significant agricultural and ranching assets. Developed areas are concentrated along the Front Range near the capital of Denver, plus Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Aurora, and Lakewood. Tourism, government and defense, technology, aerospace, energy, and outdoor recreation are among the state's major industries. Home values in Colorado have risen sharply over the past decade. As of 2025, the typical Colorado home is worth roughly $537,600 according to the Zillow Home Value Index, well above early-2010s levels, though prices can vary widely between mountain resort towns, Front Range metros, and rural areas. Colorado's cities regularly appear on national "best places to live" rankings, so if you are undecided on where to buy, the state is certainly worth a look. Because prices and lending conditions change over time, … ## Connecticut - Rate Zip URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/connecticut-ct - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Connecticut / CT Content excerpt: The state of Connecticut is small, but its history back to the beginning of the country dwarfs most other states in the Union. Home to Yale University, Connecticut has one of the highest levels of educational attainment per person in the country. With a capital in Hartford, Connecticut is another of the New England states with a connection to the sea and maritime activity that spans centuries. The state is often chosen as a summer getaway, especially for folks from the New York City region and further south. That said, the state also offers plenty of winter tourism entertainment as well. The largest city is Bridgeport, and many of the region's residents like to live in the smaller towns that dot the entire territory. Though it is relatively small, Connecticut consistently ranks among the states with the highest per-capita income and economic output in the country. However, that strong average masks significant income disparity across the state, with the upper end of the income bracket earning high wages while the lower end struggles to make ends meet. Places to Live in CT By area, Connecticut is the 3rd smallest state in the union. Its population, however, … ## Delaware Refinance Rates | Compare Banking Deals in DE | RateZip URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/delaware-de - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Delaware / DE Content excerpt: One of the Mid-Atlantic states, Delaware occupies the northeastern corner of the Delmarva Peninsula, with a long shoreline along the Delaware River, Delaware Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean, sitting across the water from southern New Jersey. The state is not heavily populated, with most of its towns and cities strung along a corridor of highways running north to south. The major cities include Dover, Wilmington, Newark, Middletown, and Georgetown. Most of the state's population lives in the northern part of the state, leaving the south largely rural. Delaware's economy is supported by finance and banking, government, education, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, chemical production, and agriculture. Given its proximity to the ocean, the state is a strong draw for coastal homeowners. Delaware is one of the least-populous states, with a population of roughly 1.06 million as of 2025. Despite its small size, it is widely known as a corporate home base: a large share of U.S. companies choose to incorporate in the state, and the resulting franchise taxes make up a significant portion of Delaware's revenue. DE - Top Places to Live As of 2025, … ## Washington D.C. Bank Rates | Compare Banks in the District of Columbia URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/district-dc - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: District of Columbia / DC Content excerpt: Established as the nation's capital, Washington, D.C. doesn't really seem like an actual state, but it does exist as a legal entity separate from the other states. The District of Columbia has its own laws, police force, and city management. The District is predominantly a government zone, made up mainly of federal government agencies. However, there is also a vibrant industry of law firms and advocacy offices as well. The District's economy is predominantly services, but it also enjoys a healthy contribution from tourism. As of recent U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the District's population is roughly 700,000, placing Washington among the 25 most populous cities in America. The Washington metropolitan area, which includes parts of Virginia and Maryland, is home to more than 6 million people and ranks as one of the largest metro areas in the United States. The District's economy is quite robust: it generates well over $150 billion in annual output. If the District were a state, that figure would rank it near the middle of the pack, an impressive number for such a small area. The typical home value in D.C. is around $600,000 (Zillow), and median sale prices run higher still, … ## Local Florida Interest Rates | FL Banks & Lenders | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/florida-fl - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Florida / FL Content excerpt: Florida holds a storied place in the earliest chapter of American history. Spanish explorers reached its shores in the 1500s, and St. Augustine, founded in 1565, is the oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement in the continental United States. Today the state is the modern home of Walt Disney World, Miami Beach, Cape Canaveral and the U.S. space program, the Everglades, and the beautiful coastlines of Tampa and Daytona Beach. Florida is a varied mix of cultures, including American, Cuban and other Hispanic, Caribbean, and Native American communities. Some of the major urban centers include Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Miami, St. Petersburg and Tampa. But Florida has so many cities and towns that the state is dotted with communities from the very tip of the territory in the islands of Key West to the upper regions of Tallahassee and Jacksonville. Despite the generally warm weather most of the year, Florida is home to major citrus agriculture. Other leading industries include tourism, aerospace, health care, international trade, and a growing technology sector. As of 2025, Florida is the third most populous state in the country, with roughly 23 million residents. … ## Best Bank Rates in GA | Shop Mortgages Loans in Georgia | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/georgia-ga - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Georgia / GA Content excerpt: With its capital in famous Atlanta, Georgia is one of the oldest states in the nation, tracing its roots back to the original 13 colonies. Today, Georgia has reshaped itself around new industries and rapid development. The state is a major transportation hub for air, rail, and road transit, and a critical center for communications and banking in the Southeast. It has also diversified into film and television production, technology, logistics, paper production, animal and plant agriculture, and advanced manufacturing. Georgia is home to a number of famous wilderness areas and national parks as well, and like many of the original states, much of Georgia is steeped in centuries of history, placing real historical education right next to modern development. As of 2024, Georgia has a population of roughly 11.2 million, making it the eighth-most populous state in the country. The Peach State has one of the largest economies of any U.S. state-large enough that, viewed on its own, it would rank among the world's sizable national economies. Over the past decade the film and television industry has grown into one of the largest production hubs in the United States, … ## Banking in Hawaii: Compare Rates Now | Home Loans in HI | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/hawaii-hi - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Hawaii / HI Content excerpt: The last major state in the Pacific when heading West, the islands of Hawaii have often been dubbed paradise by many. Providing a well-known naval base at Pearl Harbor, the state of Hawaii is also home to the sets of numerous TV shows over the years, from the original Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I. to their modern reboots. Made up of several major islands and many smaller ones, Hawaii is home to local residents, retirees, government workers, a large military presence, and transplants from across Asia and the U.S. mainland. The islands remain a major tourism destination for travelers from Japan and beyond. Hawaii's economy is driven largely by tourism, military and government spending, real estate, and agricultural exports. Hawaii has a population of roughly 1.4 million, and with a total area of about 10,900 square miles it is a small state in every sense. It is, however, one of the more densely populated states in the union. In recent years, Hawaii's economy has produced well over $100 billion in annual GDP, with government and military spending, real estate, and tourism among the largest contributors. … ## Compare Idaho Interest Rates: Mortgages in ID & More | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/idaho-id - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Idaho / ID Content excerpt: Idaho remains one of the less densely populated states in the nation, yet it has been among the fastest-growing. Long famous for its potato production and other agriculture, the state also draws geological interest for its abundance of fossilized materials and gemstones. Shaped a bit like an upside-down panhandle, Idaho spreads its farmland and prairie across the south, bordered and broken up by numerous mountain ranges. Boise, the capital, anchors the state's largest urban area, joined by Meridian, Nampa, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Falls, Twin Falls and Post Falls. In recent years Idaho has become a notable technology and manufacturing center, and a steady stream of new residents has fueled rapid growth in its cities and suburbs. Idaho's population surpassed 2 million for the first time in 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, making it one of the fastest-growing states in the country. By land area, it ranks 14th largest. Technology and advanced manufacturing, led by semiconductor maker Micron Technology, play an outsized role in the state's economy, which as of the mid-2020s exceeds $100 billion in annual output. Top Cities in ID As of 2025, … ## Guide to Illinois Mortgages | Compare IL Banking Rates | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/illinois-il - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Illinois / IL Content excerpt: Home to the city of Chicago, Illinois is a land of contrasts like many of the states in the region. It has a cluster of major cities alongside a large and productive farming community. The state has long carried the reputation of being a smaller version of the United States as a whole, and cultural and social trends in Illinois often mirror those of the country at large. Illinois can look very different from one end of the state to the other. Its population is concentrated in the northeastern corner around Chicago, while much of the rest of the state is decidedly rural. That mix gives the region something for just about everyone, and it continues to draw new residents decade after decade. As of 2025, Illinois had roughly 12.7 million residents, making it the sixth most populous state in the country. It is also home to one of the largest state economies in the United States, with a gross state product well over $1 trillion - among the five largest of any state. The Illinois economy is anchored by services, manufacturing, agriculture, transportation, and finance, with many of the service and finance jobs concentrated in the Chicago area. The Cities of Illinois As of 2025, … ## Refinance Rates in Indiana | IN Auto Loans, CDs & More | RateZip URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/indiana-in - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Indiana / IN Content excerpt: Sitting at the bottom of the Great Lakes below Michigan and beside Illinois and Ohio, Indiana makes up one of the major crossroads of the region. Indianapolis has several Interstate connections running through and around the city, giving it a hub-and-spoke reach across the rest of the state. Major urban areas include Fort Wayne, Bloomington, South Bend, Evansville, Lafayette, Carmel, and Fishers. The state has a diverse economic base: in terms of energy and natural resources Indiana produces coal, oil, and a growing share of wind and other renewable power. Indiana also draws major tourism every year thanks to its motorsports heritage and the Indianapolis 500. Professional and collegiate sports - football, basketball, and auto racing among them - contribute meaningfully to the state economy. The Hoosier State is home to roughly 6.97 million residents as of 2025, making it about the 17th-most-populous state in the country, even though it ranks 38th by land area. Indiana's economy remains heavily tied to manufacturing - the state is a national leader in producing motor vehicles, heavy machinery, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices - while health care, life sciences, logistics, … ## Top Banks in Iowa | Current IA Interest Rates | Compare on RateZip URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/iowa-ia - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Iowa / IA Content excerpt: Iowa, originally acquired in the Louisiana Purchase, is a state located in the American Heartland. It has seen its largely agricultural economy develop into a diversified modern economy that spans financial services and insurance, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, renewable energy, and a wide range of service industries. The capital and largest city is Des Moines. Iowa is the birthplace of actors Elijah Wood and Ashton Kutcher, as well as President Herbert Hoover. Iowa has roughly 3.2 million residents, making it one of the nation's less populous states, and it ranks 26th largest by area. While Iowa is often associated with farming, agriculture is only one part of a broad economy that also leans heavily on finance and insurance, manufacturing, and one of the nation's largest wind-energy sectors. This diversity has historically helped the state maintain a relatively low unemployment rate. Places to Live in IA The typical home value in Iowa is around $240,000, according to Zillow, though prices vary widely by region. Iowa is known for its relatively affordable housing compared with the national median. … ## Mortgage Rates in Kansas | KS CDs & Savings Accounts | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/kansas-ks - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Kansas / KS Content excerpt: The state of Kansas represents the center of the true Midwest, literally sitting near the geographic center of the country. The state has a long history as home to many Native American tribes who lived on and migrated across the territory long before Europeans arrived. Kansas also has a storied connection to the American bison, whose herds once ranged across the state's vast plains. Those plains were eventually converted to farmland, making Kansas today one of the nation's biggest producers of wheat, sorghum, and sunflowers, as well as a major cattle producer. Kansas has much of its population concentrated in urban centers along the eastern side of the state, leaving the rural west relatively lightly populated. As a result, people relocating here will find both growing cities and small towns in the countryside looking for new neighbors. Kansas is home to roughly 2.97 million residents as of 2024, making it the 34th or 35th most populous state; by total area, it ranks 15th largest in the U.S. The Kansas economy is diverse and is anchored by agriculture, aviation and aerospace manufacturing, energy (oil and natural gas), and food processing. … ## RateZip.com's Guide to Kentucky Interest Rates | Banking in KY URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/kentucky-ky - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Kentucky / KY Content excerpt: Long a symbol of the American frontier - the land explored by pioneers like Daniel Boone - Kentucky joined the Union in 1792 as the 15th state. Today, Kentucky, also called the Bluegrass State, represents a vibrant region ranging from farmland to forest to urban centers. Frankfort is the capital of Kentucky, but the state's major urban centers include Louisville (home of the famous Louisville Slugger baseball bat), Lexington, Bowling Green, and Paducah. The state is also home to the famous horse racing at Churchill Downs and the renowned University of Kentucky and University of Louisville college basketball teams. Farming and horse breeding remain signature industries, but Kentucky is also known for its automobile manufacturing as well as several major government complexes in-state. Fort Knox and Fort Campbell, for example, are two of the more famous military installations in the state. As of 2025, Kentucky is home to roughly 4.6 million Americans (U.S. Census Bureau estimate), making it the nation's 26th most populous state, though it ranks 37th in land area. The state has long been known for farming and remains a major producer of corn, beef, and other agricultural goods. … ## Louisiana Mortgage Rates | Auto Loans & CDs in LA | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/louisiana-la - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Louisiana / LA Content excerpt: Home of the Big Easy and the New Orleans Saints, Louisiana draws much of its fame and reputation from its marquee coastal city, New Orleans. The state is far bigger than just the harbor and bayou area, though. Louisiana is really a land of two topographies: the southern region is built on communities that grew up around waterways and bayou, while the north and central parishes stretch into piney uplands and farmland. Louisiana leans on several pillars for its economy - energy, with sizable in-state oil and natural gas production; petrochemicals; shipping; agriculture and seafood; and tourism. Louisiana is also one of the major shipping gateways into the U.S., with cargo moving up and down the Mississippi River every day. In the two decades since Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans and the surrounding parishes have largely rebuilt. As of the mid-2020s, the state is home to roughly 4.6 million people, placing it around the middle of the pack nationally (about the 26th-most populous state). The Louisiana economy is one of the larger ones in the South, anchored by energy and petrochemicals, shipping, agriculture and seafood, and tourism. The Port of South Louisiana, … ## Today's Maine Interest Rates | Find Bank Reviews in ME | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/maine-me - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Maine / ME Content excerpt: Making up the furthest northern point of the U.S. in terms of territory, Maine is a long-known maritime state which shares a large border with Canada to the north. The state is sparsely populated inland where much of the region is forested and natural. In fact, the Appalachian mountain range makes up the northwestern side of the state, interspersed with various lakes and hardly any development whatsoever. Bangor, Maine, is a key urban center of the state and is famously the longtime home of horror writer Stephen King. Other well-known Maine cities include Portland, Bar Harbor, Newport, and the capital, Augusta. Maine is a small state. As of the U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 estimate, its population is roughly 1.4 million, placing it among the ten least-populous states. The state economy is likewise one of the smaller in the nation, anchored by health care, tourism, fishing and lobstering, forestry, and a growing services sector. ME is also filled with beautiful natural scenery and one of the nation's lowest crime rates. Read on for our overview of the largest cities, banking options to consider, and, of course, how to find the best deal on a mortgage loan in Maine. … ## Best Interest Rates in Maryland | RateZip.com Guide to Mortgages in MD URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/maryland-md - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Maryland / MD Content excerpt: Home to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and a large concentration of federal government institutions, Maryland is a small state in land area but ranks among the more populous in the nation. It plays a major role in the economy of the Washington, D.C. region and is home to the Port of Baltimore, one of the busiest ports on the East Coast. The state's population centers are clustered on the western side, while much of the Eastern Shore, separated by the Chesapeake Bay, remains rural. Major population centers include Baltimore, Columbia, Germantown, Silver Spring, Frederick and Waldorf. Key industries include federal government and defense, biotechnology and life sciences, professional and business services, health care, education, tourism, agriculture and shipping. As of the 2024 Census Bureau estimate, Maryland has a population of nearly 6.3 million. Because the state is geographically small, that makes it one of the most densely populated states in the country. Maryland also consistently ranks among the wealthiest states in the nation by median household income, driven in large part by its proximity to Washington, D.C. and its concentration of federal, … ## Massachusetts Refinance Mortgage Rates | Banking Deals in MA | RateZip URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/massachusetts-ma - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Massachusetts / MA Content excerpt: The home of Boston, Paul Revere, the Patriots professional football team and the Celtics professional basketball team, Massachusetts has a vibrant history and community to offer residents. Most of the population resides in the eastern half of the state, with a high concentration in and around Boston. For centuries the Commonwealth has been tied to the sea, with fishing communities up and down its coastline. Massachusetts is world-renowned for higher education: Harvard, founded in 1636, is the oldest university in the United States, and the state is home to more than 100 colleges and universities, including MIT, Brandeis, Tufts, Boston University and Boston College. The major industries of the state include healthcare, education, insurance, finance, technology and tourism. As of the U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 estimate, roughly 7.1 million people call Massachusetts home. It is a geographically small state, which makes it one of the most densely populated in the country. Massachusetts also has one of the largest and most productive economies in the nation, and per capita income here ranks among the highest of any state. This being RateZip, … ## Your Guide to Michigan Banks | Shop MI Interest Rates on RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/michigan-mi - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Michigan / MI Content excerpt: As the next-door neighbor to Wisconsin and also sharing a border with Canada as well as access to the Great Lakes, Michigan is well known as the auto-making heartbeat of America. The major domestic carmakers - General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis (formerly Chrysler) - have long had a headquarters presence in the Detroit area, producing vehicles that just about everyone has driven in one form or another. Michigan's capital sits in Lansing, but the state also has major urban centers in Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, and Flint. The state is unique in that it is made up of two large peninsulas, offering a significant variety of places to live in-state. Michigan is one of America's largest states, both in terms of land mass and population. As of the U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 estimates, it is home to roughly 10.1 million people, making it the 10th most populous state; by total area it ranks 11th. Not surprisingly, the state has a very large economy as well, producing several hundred billion dollars in annual GDP. Although it's best known for the auto industry, Michigan is also home to numerous other well-known companies such as Whirlpool, Dow, Stryker, and Rocket Companies. … ## Compare Minnesota Interest Rates: CDs in MN & More | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/minnesota-mn - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Minnesota / MN Content excerpt: The land of the Viking fans, as Minnesota football fans like to dub themselves, Minnesota is one of the larger states of the upper Midwest, with a strong Scandinavian American heritage. Minnesota has also seen steady growth among its Asian, Hispanic, East African, and other communities. The state is famous for being the Land of 10,000 Lakes, dotted with water bodies from border to border. Much of the population is concentrated in the Twin Cities region of Minneapolis and St. Paul, though Rochester, Duluth, and St. Cloud anchor important regional economies of their own. Minnesota has major industries in healthcare and medical technology, agriculture, food processing, financial services, retail, mining and natural resources, forestry, and outdoor tourism. The state is also a leading ethanol producer, and professional and collegiate sports add to the local economy as well. By area, Minnesota is America's 12th biggest state. It is home to about 5.8 million people as of the 2025 Census estimate, making it roughly the 22nd most populous state. The state's economy is large and diversified, producing an annual gross domestic product of more than $400 billion as of 2024-2025. … ## Current Mississippi Interest Rates | Top Banks in MS | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/mississippi-ms - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Mississippi / MS Content excerpt: Named after the Mississippi River, which provides a lifeline of shipping through the heart of the country, the state of Mississippi sits in the Deep South, with a long history of agrarian development and farming. The city of Jackson, named after President Andrew Jackson, is the state capital and its largest urban center. Agriculture remains important to the economy, but Mississippi's employment base has broadened over the decades to include manufacturing, healthcare, shipbuilding, and Gulf Coast tourism and gaming. The state enjoys a coast on the Gulf of Mexico to the south, while rivers criss-cross the interior and form its western border. Vicksburg in the west and the cities of Tupelo, Aberdeen, and Biloxi make up some of the other notable urban locations, offering visitors and new residents a varied mix of climate and environment. The Magnolia State is home to roughly 2.9 million people as of the latest Census Bureau estimate, ranking it among the less populous states in the country. Mississippi remains an affordable place to live, and it has long reported one of the lowest per-capita incomes in the nation. … ## Missouri Banks & Credit Unions: Compare MO Rates | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/missouri-mo - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Missouri / MO Content excerpt: The "Show Me State," Missouri has a long, well-established history within the formation of the early United States. The state is bisected by major highways, one running from east to west between Kansas City and St. Louis. With the gateway to the West literally symbolized by the St. Louis Arch, Missouri is split between the Ozark plateau making up the southern half while the northern part of the state is generally shaped by the Missouri River. Missouri's economy is diverse, anchored by agriculture, heavy machinery manufacturing, beer and food production, healthcare, transportation and logistics, aerospace and defense, and natural resources. The birthplace of President Harry Truman, Missouri has a mix of urban centers and rural communities. The two major population centers are Kansas City and St. Louis, with Jefferson City serving as the capital in the middle of the state. With a mixed political population, Missouri has often been viewed as a bellwether, which has made it influential in national elections. As of recent estimates, the Show Me State is home to roughly 6.2 million people, making it about the 18th most populous state and the 21st largest by area. … ## Search Today's Montana Interest Rates: Banking in MT | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/montana-mt - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Montana / MT Content excerpt: Big Sky Country, Montana offers some of the best farm, ranch, and open-land properties in the nation. The state remains a magnet for cattle ranching and agriculture, while energy production, forestry, mining, and a fast-growing tourism sector round out a diverse economy. In recent years Montana has drawn steady in-migration from people seeking a high quality of life, wide-open spaces, and communities free of the congestion of larger urban centers. That demand has put real pressure on housing supply in the most popular areas. The state is also rich in history, home to numerous Native American tribes and to world-renowned fossil beds and public lands. Montana is the 4th largest state in the U.S. by land area, and the 3rd largest in the contiguous United States, behind only Texas and California, yet it remains sparsely populated. As of 2024, Montana's population was about 1.14 million (U.S. Census Bureau estimate), giving it one of the lowest population densities in the country. Real estate has long been among the largest single contributors to the state's economy, followed by a broad services sector, with agriculture, energy, mining, and tourism all playing important roles. … ## Nebraska Guide to Banking | Search NE Interest Rates on RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/nebraska-ne - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Nebraska / NE Content excerpt: The home of the Cornhuskers, Nebraska is considered one of the bread baskets of the U.S., producing farm crops by the millions of tons. With the state capital in Lincoln, Nebraska also has major urban centers in Omaha, Bellevue, Grand Island, Kearney, and North Platte. The state is home to the legendary investor Warren Buffett and is famous for Scotts Bluff National Monument. A large portion of the state falls under federal park or federal forest management. The population is fairly sparse across the territory, with a scattering of towns and more concentration toward the eastern side. Major industries include agriculture, energy production, manufacturing, insurance and finance, and tourism. The state also has a strong selection of universities, several of which appear in major college sporting events regularly. As of the U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 estimates, Nebraska is home to just over 2 million people, ranking it among the less populous states. By area it is the 16th largest, giving Nebraska one of the lowest population densities in the country. Agriculture - particularly the production of corn, beef, and pork - remains a major driver of the economy, alongside insurance, … ## Low Nevada Refinancing Rates | NV Deals on Auto Loans on RateZip URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/nevada-nv - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Nevada / NV Content excerpt: Known as the gaming state of the West, Nevada is also famous for its mining heritage and its production of silver and other precious metals. The state's major population centers are anchored by Reno in the north, the state capital at Carson City, and the Las Vegas metropolitan area in the south. Nevada is predominantly desert and arid land, but for those who like warm weather and a favorable tax climate, the state is home. Both the Las Vegas area and Reno have grown well beyond their casino-town roots into large metros with established neighborhoods and a wide range of property opportunities for home-buying. Nevada also includes the eastern shore of beautiful Lake Tahoe, its Sierra forests, and nearby ski resorts. Home to roughly 3.2 million residents as of the 2024 Census estimate, the Silver State is one of the fastest-growing states in the country and the 7th largest by area. With a low population density, Nevada is full of wide open spaces. The state's economy is driven by tourism, gaming, and hospitality in the Las Vegas area and around Lake Tahoe, alongside growing logistics, technology, and manufacturing sectors in the Reno-Sparks region. Places You May Want to Live Nevada, … ## RateZip Guide to New Hampshire Banks | Shop Today's NH Interest Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/new-hampshire-nh - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: New Hampshire / NH Content excerpt: New Hampshire sits in the heart of New England, sharing borders with Massachusetts to the south, Maine to the east, Vermont to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to the north. Much of the state is covered in forested, mountainous terrain. New Hampshire has the proud distinction of being one of the 13 original colonies, and today its economy leans heavily on tourism, technology, and regional trade. It's also a popular destination for retirees, as the state levies no tax on earned wages and no general sales tax. New Hampshire is home to a number of well-known colleges and universities, including Dartmouth and Franklin Pierce. With only a small southeastern corner of the state having coastal access, it's no surprise that this same region - the Merrimack River Valley - holds most of the population. No matter how you slice it, the Granite State is small. By area it's one of the smallest states in the country, and as of the 2024 Census Bureau estimate it had roughly 1.41 million residents, placing it among the less populous states. That said, New Hampshire is relatively densely settled for its size, with most residents clustered in the southern tier. … ## Guide to New Jersey Interest Rates | Mortgages in NJ | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/new-jersey-nj - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: New Jersey / NJ Content excerpt: Known as the Garden State, New Jersey sits between New York City and Philadelphia and carries a somewhat mixed reputation. Outside its major urban centers - Newark, Jersey City, Trenton, New Brunswick, Atlantic City, and Paterson - the state is dotted with beautiful countryside, small towns, and forested communities. The New Jersey shoreline is made up of coastal towns famous for summer homes and tourism. The state's economy is broad, anchored by pharmaceuticals and life sciences, finance, logistics and shipping, tourism, and government. Because of this variety, some of the most prized suburbs in the New York metro area sit on the New Jersey side in quiet family towns, and much of the northern part of the state serves as a bedroom community for Manhattan. By area, New Jersey is a small state, ranking among the smallest in the nation (47th). Even so, it is home to roughly 9.5 million people as of 2024, making it the most densely populated state in the country, with well over 1,200 residents per square mile. Part of this is due to New Jersey's central location among major cities like Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. … ## Compare Banks in New Mexico | Reviews of NM Lenders | Rates by RateZip URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/new-mexico-nm - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: New Mexico / NM Content excerpt: Situated between Arizona and Texas, New Mexico is one of the desert states that enjoys a warmer, drier climate than much of the U.S. and draws retirees and snowbirds looking to escape colder winters. The state has a relatively small population spread thinly across a large area. Government and the national laboratories, energy and natural resources, tourism, and a growing film and television industry are among its major economic drivers. The largest urban areas are concentrated around Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Santa Fe, and Las Cruces, with much of the rest of the state remaining rural. The Land of Enchantment is the 5th largest state by area, but its population of roughly 2.1 million (2024 U.S. Census Bureau estimate) ranks about 36th in the United States. New Mexico continues to have one of the higher poverty rates in the country, and household incomes tend to trail national averages. Top Cities in New Mexico As of 2025, the typical New Mexico home was valued at roughly $315,000, according to the Zillow Home Value Index - a figure that has climbed substantially over the past decade. … ## Home Mortgages in New York | Today's NY Interest Rates | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/new-york-ny - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: New York / NY Content excerpt: The state of New York is famous worldwide due to the international reputation of New York City. However, despite the metropolitan Gotham nature of Manhattan and surrounding boroughs, the state of New York is far more than its primary international city. New York has the unique ability to claim access to both the Atlantic as well as the waterways of the Great Lakes to the north. New York also shares a border with Canada to the north as well. New York remains one of the most populous states in the country. As of 2025, roughly 20 million people call it home (U.S. Census Bureau estimate), making it the fourth-largest state by population. By area, it's 27th largest. The state's economy spans a broad mix of industries, including finance and banking, tourism, media and communications, health care, education, manufacturing, agriculture, technology, and transportation. New York's economy is among the largest of any U.S. state. As of 2024 it produced more than $2 trillion in gross domestic product, ranking third among the states behind only California and Texas. Per capita income is among the highest in the nation. Read on for our guide to living, banking, … ## All the Interest Rates in NC | Banks in North Carolina | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/north-carolina-nc - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: North Carolina / NC Content excerpt: The state of North Carolina is among the original states that share the distinction of being one of the 13 original colonies of the U.S. Today, North Carolina is one of the most populated states in the country and one with direct access to the Atlantic Ocean. The state geography involves a bit of extremes, ranging from the tallest point on the eastern seaboard to coastal, water-level beaches. The state can range from heavily forested zones to open plains and fields. Major developed areas include Asheville, Boone, Cape Hatteras, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Greensboro and Raleigh. The economy of the state varies by location. The capital sees significant industry associated with energy, science and technology. Both government and business share in the labor pool as well, which has a high level of education thanks to the number of universities and colleges in the state. Some of the more famous schools include Duke, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University and Wake Forest. The Tar Heel State is only about average in size - its area ranks 28th - but as of 2025 it is home to roughly 11.2 million people, making it the 9th most populous state. … ## Compare Today's North Dakota Bank Rates | Mortgages in ND | RateZip URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/north-dakota-nd - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: North Dakota / ND Content excerpt: With Canada across its northern border, North Dakota is one of the great plains states, known for its energy production, agriculture and wide-open country. The state capital is located in Bismarck, and North Dakota remains a predominantly rural state with a small population relative to the rest of the country. That seclusion suits many residents just fine, especially those who like open sky, hunting, ranching and country life. A good portion of North Dakota residents claim either a German or Scandinavian background, which contributes to the distinctive accent the locals are known for. Major cities besides the capital include Fargo, Grand Forks, West Fargo, Minot and Dickinson. As of 2025, North Dakota's population is just under 800,000, making it one of the least-populous states in the country. Even so, those who live in the Roughrider State tend to do well: North Dakota consistently posts one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation, anchored by its energy, agriculture and technology sectors. Places to Live in ND As of 2025, the typical home value in North Dakota is around $290,000 (per Zillow), having risen modestly over the past year. … ## Guide to Refinance Rates in Ohio | CDs & Mortgages in OH | RateZip URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/ohio-oh - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Ohio / OH Content excerpt: With its capital of Columbus located near the center of the state, Ohio sits squarely in the U.S. Midwest and enjoys a coastline along Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes. The state's major population centers include Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Akron, Dayton, and Toledo, and it is dotted with college towns and universities in nearly every region. Despite its relatively compact size, Ohio remains one of the most populous states in the country - 7th among the 50 states. Residents are proudly known as "Buckeyes," a nod to the buckeye tree native to the state. Geographically, Ohio has three broad zones: the western half is largely plains and lowland, a band of glaciated plateau runs through the middle toward the northeastern corner, and the eastern third rises into the plateaus tied to the Appalachian mountain range. Like a handful of other states, Ohio has long played a pivotal role in presidential elections and draws frequent attention during campaign season. As of 2025, the Buckeye State is home to roughly 11.9 million people and remains among the more densely populated states in the nation. Ohio has one of the country's larger state economies, … ## Low Oklahoma Mortgage Rates | Compare Bank Deals in OK | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/oklahoma-ok - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Oklahoma / OK Content excerpt: Known as the "Sooner State" and the historic epicenter of the 1930s Dust Bowl, Oklahoma remains an important agricultural region as well as a major natural gas and oil producer. Oklahoma is a great location for nature lovers, home to dozens of state parks and several federally managed sites. Leading industries include energy (oil and natural gas), aerospace and aviation, government and military, healthcare, manufacturing, and biotechnology. Agriculture also plays a significant role in the state economy and in its exports. In terms of both population and land mass, the Sooner State sits right around the middle of the pack. As of 2025, Oklahoma is home to roughly 4.1 million people, ranking about 28th among the states, while its total land area ranks around 20th. Oklahoma is generally regarded as a business-friendly state and is home to a handful of Fortune 500 companies. The Cities and Towns of OK As of 2025, the typical Oklahoma home is valued at roughly $200,000 according to Zillow's Home Value Index, well below the national average, which keeps the state one of the more affordable housing markets in the country. … ## Find Oregon Interest Rates | Guide to Banking in OR on RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/oregon-or - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Oregon / OR Content excerpt: Oregon has long attracted transplants drawn to its rural character and natural beauty without the dense population of states farther south. The state is home to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland as well as Crater Lake National Park. Like Washington to the north, Oregon features temperate coastal rainforest and evergreen Douglas-fir forest along the coast, with farmland and high desert across its drier eastern half. Portland is the state's major urban center. Oregon has no statewide sales tax, a notable contrast with many other states and an appeal to those making large purchases. Some retirees relocate to Oregon in part for that benefit. As with any market, local housing conditions shift over time, so it pays to compare current offers before you buy. By area, Oregon is the 9th-largest U.S. state. As of 2025, its population is roughly 4.3 million, making it the 27th-most populous state (U.S. Census Bureau estimates). Oregon's major industries include agriculture, technology, forestry, and fishing. The state grows the large majority of the hazelnuts produced in the United States. Places to Live in Oregon As of 2025-2026, … ## RateZip Guide to Pennsylvania Mortgages | Current PA Interest Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/pennsylvania-pa - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Pennsylvania / PA Content excerpt: The historic home of the nation's first Quakers, Pennsylvania blends farmland and rural regions with highly dense population centers in its major cities. Home to the birthplace of the Constitution in Philadelphia, the state has a rich history in the founding of the country and was one of the 13 original colonies. Today, Pennsylvania's economy is supported by industries including healthcare, financial services, advanced manufacturing, energy, agriculture, tourism, and technology. The state is also a major center for higher education, home to schools such as Carnegie Mellon University, Penn State, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania has deep sports roots as well, hosting the Little League World Series along with major-league baseball, football, basketball, and hockey franchises. By area, Pennsylvania is a mid-sized state, ranking 33rd in the United States. It is far more significant by population: as of the 2024 Census Bureau estimate, roughly 13 million people call the Keystone State home, making it the fifth-most populous state in the country. As of the mid-2020s, Pennsylvania's economy produces close to $1 trillion in annual output, … ## Your Guide to Puerto Rico Interest Rates | Banking in PR | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/puerto-pr - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Puerto Rico / PR Content excerpt: Puerto Rico, while not technically a state, is still a part of the United States. It is, in fact, a territory, which means residents are U.S. citizens but do not have voting representation in Congress and cannot vote in presidential elections. Puerto Rico is well known for its tropical climate, with temperatures hovering around 80 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. As of 2025, Puerto Rico is home to roughly 3.2 million people, a figure that has declined over the past decade as residents move to the mainland. By area the territory is quite small, so it remains one of the most densely populated jurisdictions under the U.S. flag. The economy produces on the order of $126 billion a year (2024), anchored by manufacturing - which makes up close to half of output, led by pharmaceuticals and medical devices - along with tourism and financial services. Places to Live Home values in Puerto Rico have risen sharply over the past several years, though the island generally remains more affordable than much of the mainland. Reported median prices vary widely by source and market segment, so buyers should treat any single figure with caution and look at current local listings. … ## Find Banks in Rhode Island | Today's RI Interest Rates | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/rhode-ri - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Rhode Island / RI Content excerpt: While Rhode Island is a small sliver of a state compared with its New England neighbors, it has a rich history and remains one of the primary seafaring and fishing communities of the northern Atlantic seaboard. Providence, the capital, was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, and the Ocean State grew up around Narragansett Bay. Most of the state's development hugs the coast, with the largest concentrations of residents in Providence, Cranston, Warwick and Pawtucket. Rhode Island's economy today leans on healthcare, education, professional and financial services, manufacturing, tourism and its historic maritime and fishing industries. State and federal government, major hospital systems and universities are among the largest employers. The Ocean State is the smallest U.S. state by area, with a total area of roughly 1,200 square miles. As of 2025, it is home to about 1.1 million people, making it the 44th most populous state (U.S. Census Bureau). Several notable companies are headquartered in Rhode Island, including CVS Health in Woonsocket, FM Global in Johnston and Textron in Providence. The Cities of RI As of 2025, the typical Rhode Island home is valued in the mid-$400,000s, … ## Guide to Interest Rates in SC | South Carolina Mortgages | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/south-carolina-sc - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: South Carolina / SC Content excerpt: While the early days of the state were mired in the exploits of pirates like Blackbeard, South Carolina today represents one of the Atlantic states and dates back to being among the original 13 colonies at the beginning of the United States. The coastal side of South Carolina has a greater portion of the state's population and development than inland, which tends to be more rural and forested. South Carolina also has famous Atlantic beaches which regularly draw tourists through the summer and warm months. The largest developed areas of the state include Charleston, Columbia, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant and Rock Hill. In terms of tourism, one of the most vivid coastal sights is the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge which spans across Charleston Harbor. In terms of industry, the state sees economic activity from tourism, aerospace and automobile manufacturing, advanced materials, chemical and paper production, heavy machinery, agriculture, and a growing healthcare and education sector. As of 2025, the Palmetto State is home to roughly 5.4 million people and has been one of the fastest-growing states in the country, with most of that growth driven by people relocating from other states. … ## Top Banks in South Dakota | Search SD Interest Rates on RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/south-dakota-sd - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: South Dakota / SD Content excerpt: The twin state to the south of its northern cousin, South Dakota is home to the famous carving at Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial, and the sweeping badlands and granite peaks of the Black Hills. Custer State Park, one of the nation's largest state parks, is known for its free-roaming bison herds and scenic drives. South Dakota, like many of the plains states, is well known for its natural beauty and geology as well as for its agriculture, particularly ranching. The state is also a famous site for fossil-hunting, having produced dinosaur remains now displayed in museums around the world. Agriculture and tourism are two of the state's major industries, alongside a substantial financial-services sector and growing healthcare and manufacturing employers. For those who want to live in the country and enjoy vast, open land, South Dakota makes a great destination. With a total area of roughly 77,000 square miles, the Mount Rushmore State is larger than the average state by land area. As of 2025, however, fewer than a million people call it home, and its population ranks 46th in the nation. South Dakota has one of the smaller state economies, anchored by farming, ranching, … ## Current Interest Rates in Tennessee | Guide to TN Banks | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/tennessee-tn - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Tennessee / TN Content excerpt: Well known as the capital of country music, Tennessee has long been a bastion of the Appalachian south. The state has deep forests, mountains, river communities and lake regions. It is also the final resting place of the king of rock and roll, Elvis, at Graceland. With major urban centers in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Murfreesboro, Tennessee spreads its communities and varied living across the state. Those concentrated populations are distributed statewide, which makes Tennessee a bit different from some of its neighbors further west. Agriculture and energy production remain major industries, but Tennessee is also home to a number of major corporations, including FedEx, AutoZone, International Paper, Pilot, and Eastman Chemical. Nissan and Volkswagen operate assembly plants in-state, and Ford is building its BlueOval City electric-vehicle complex in West Tennessee. The Volunteer State is home to about 7.3 million residents as of 2025, making it one of the nation's more populous states. As of 2024, its economy produces well over $550 billion in goods and services annually. Cities in Tennessee As of 2025, the typical Tennessee home is valued at roughly $336,000, … ## Texas Guide to Mortgages | Current TX Interest Rates | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/texas-tx - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Texas / TX Content excerpt: "Don't Mess With Texas" is more than a motto; the statement permeates the land and culture of the Lone Star State. With a southern border adjacent to Mexico, a good portion of the state is influenced by Hispanic culture and lifestyle. Major urban centers are located in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin. That said, plenty of towns dot the state, making Texas the second most populous state in the U.S. Texas also has a major manufacturing base, consistently leading the country in exports of both raw and finished goods, along with a deep industry base in energy, technology, aerospace, electronics, and biomedical production. The Lone Star State, the second largest by area, is home to more than 31 million residents (roughly 31.7 million as of the Census Bureau's 2025 estimate) and has been the nation's fastest-growing state by raw numbers in recent years. The Texas economy is enormous: gross state product topped $2.7 trillion in 2024, a figure that would rank among the largest national economies in the world. There is no state income tax, which has made Texas a popular destination for residents of other states, … ## Search Utah Banking Rates: UT CDs, Mortgages & More | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/utah-ut - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Utah / UT Content excerpt: Surrounded by Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico, Utah sits at the heart of the American West. Known as the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Utah offers an abundance of farm regions, mountains, natural beauty, mining history, technology and tourism. Salt Lake City, the capital, is one of the largest urban areas in the state, but Utah also includes the cities of Ogden, Park City, Logan, Provo, Sandy and more. Bryce Canyon National Park, for example, is a major draw as the amazing scene of its slowly eroding spires dazzles, especially in the evening sun. A former Winter Olympics host, Salt Lake City and the surrounding Wasatch Range draw heavy crowds for their ski resorts each winter. Home to roughly 3.5 million residents as of 2024, the Beehive State is one of the fastest-growing states in the country. By area it ranks among the nation's largest, with a total landmass of about 85,000 square miles. Utah's economy has diversified well beyond its mining roots and now spans technology, finance and industrial banking, aerospace, higher education, outdoor recreation and tourism. Places to Live As of 2025, … ## Compare Banks in Vermont | Today's VT Interest Rates | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/vermon-vt - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Vermont / VT Content excerpt: With a northern border shared with Canada, Vermont is one of the northeastern states and one of the least populated territories among the 50 states. Much of the state is countryside and forestland. The major population centers include Burlington, South Burlington, Colchester, Rutland, Barre, Montpelier the capital, Winooski, and St. Albans among others. Most of the state's concentrated population lives in and around Burlington in the northwest, with the rest of the region sparsely inhabited. For many, the spread-out communities are part of the allure of the state, especially for those who want to get away from the big cities. The Green Mountain State is home to roughly 647,000 residents as of the U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 estimate, making it the second least populous state after Wyoming. Vermont also has one of the smallest state economies by total gross domestic product, though it fares much better in per-capita measures such as median household income. Places to Live in VT As of 2025, the typical Vermont home is valued at roughly $400,000 according to Zillow's home value index, though prices vary widely by region and have risen sharply over the past decade. … ## A Guide to Home Mortgages in Virginia | VA Banking Rates | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/virginia-va - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Virginia / VA Content excerpt: The historical home of the first permanent English settlers in what became the United States, as well as one of the 13 original colonies, Virginia carries a special role in early American history. Today the state is a predominant location of many federal government agencies and defense contractors that serve the executive offices in the adjacent District of Columbia to the northeast. That said, the western side of the state is far more rural, divided by major mountain ranges running from the southwest to the northeast, and much of the Appalachian range remains rural and undeveloped. The eastern and northern parts of the state are heavily developed, particularly Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Northern Virginia. The state has a diverse economy beyond government spending, including one of the world's largest concentrations of data centers in Northern Virginia, major port and shipbuilding activity in Hampton Roads, defense and aerospace, agriculture, and tourism. Major urban areas include Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Arlington, Norfolk, and the capital, Richmond. Virginia is also home to many well-known universities, including the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, … ## Find Washington Mortgage Rates | Daily Bank Deals in WA | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/washington-wa - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Washington / WA Content excerpt: Sitting in the top northwest corner of the U.S. on the border with Canada is Washington, with famous locations like Seattle and Puget Sound. Washington is home to Microsoft as well as the historic Seattle waterfront and Pike Place Market. It is also a significant source of the nation's timber harvesting industry, as much of the state is still wild land versus developed regions. Washington ranks 13th in population among the 50 states, though much of the housing is clustered around the Puget Sound corridor rather than inland. The state itself also changes dramatically further east, shifting from the rainy coastal forests to high plateaus and farming land along the border with Idaho. Washington attracts many residents because the state has no personal income tax, instead relying on property tax, sales tax, and other levies for government revenue. The Evergreen State is home to more than 8 million residents. Its economy is one of the ten largest among U.S. states, anchored by several iconic American businesses, including Microsoft, Amazon, Costco, Starbucks, and Boeing. Per-capita income ranks among the highest in the country. … ## Search West Virginia Bank Rates | Guide to CDs in WV on RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/west-virginia-wv - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: West Virginia / WV Content excerpt: On the western side of the Appalachian range sits West Virginia, the mountainous, largely rural state that broke away from Virginia during the Civil War. In its early years West Virginia was very much a frontier land, and it remains one of the most rural states in the country. Coal mining runs deep in the state's history, but it now shares the stage with other industries. Health care, natural-gas and chemical production, tourism, higher education, advanced manufacturing, and energy all play meaningful roles in the state's economy today. Even so, West Virginia has a relatively small population compared with its neighbors, ranking near the bottom of the states by population. Known as the Mountain State, West Virginia is home to roughly 1.77 million people as of the 2025 Census estimate, which places it around 39th among the states. It covers about 24,000 square miles, ranking 41st in land area. The state economy produces on the order of $80 billion a year (2024) - modest by U.S. standards, but larger than the output of many countries. Top Cities in West Virginia West Virginia remains one of the most affordable states in the nation for housing. As of 2026, … ## RateZip.com Guide to Wisconsin Interest Rates | Banking Reviews in WI URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/wisconsin-wi - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Wisconsin / WI Content excerpt: The land of cheese and the Green Bay Packers, Wisconsin is one of the few northern states with access to more than one of the Great Lakes as well as a border with Canada. While the capital, Madison, is one of the state's major urban centers, Wisconsin is also home to Milwaukee, Kenosha, Racine, Appleton, Eau Claire, La Crosse and, of course, Green Bay. Much of the population is concentrated toward the southeastern corner of the state, while the northern and western regions offer agriculture, farming, natural expanse, and natural resources. Wisconsin's economy leans on manufacturing and machinery, tourism, healthcare, and its well-known agriculture and forestry industries. As of 2025, roughly 5.97 million people live in the Badger State, which ranks in the top 20 nationally. This midwestern state is the 23rd largest by area. As of 2024, Wisconsin's economy produces well over $350 billion in real GDP annually. Major national retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Wisconsin-based Menards rank among the state's largest employers. The Cities of WI Home values in Wisconsin have risen substantially over the past decade. As of 2025, … ## Wyoming Guide to Banking | Compare WY Interest Rates | RateZip.com URL: https://www.ratezip.com/local-interest-rates/wyoming-wy - Type: local interest-rate guide - State: Wyoming / WY Content excerpt: Similar to its neighbors, Wyoming offers wide prairie vistas and distant mountain ranges to those who want space to call home. The state is a tourism magnet, drawing visitors to famous natural landmarks including the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone National Park, and Devils Tower, the formation featured in the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Much of the state is mountainous, offering high-altitude terrain for those drawn to the rugged alpine life. Cheyenne serves as the capital, but communities such as Casper, Laramie, Gillette, and Jackson each offer their own developed areas as well. The Cowboy State is last in alphabetical order among the states, and it is also last in population: as of the U.S. Census Bureau's July 2024 estimate, roughly 588,000 people call Wyoming home, making it the least-populous state in the nation. It is geographically large, however, covering about 97,000 square miles, which ranks among the ten largest states by area. Wyoming's economy is anchored by energy and mineral extraction (oil, natural gas, and coal), tourism, and agriculture, and the state levies no personal income tax. Places to Live in WY As of 2026, … ## 1stHomeIllinois URL: https://www.ratezip.com/1sthomeillinois - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: 1stHomeIllinois - State: Illinois Content excerpt: Offered by the Illinois Housing Development Authority, 1stHomeIllinois offers mortgages and down payment grants to eligible applicants. This down payment grant is for the amount of $7,500. In order to qualify, the applicant must be a first-time homebuyer or a veteran. They are also required to fall under certain income limits. A minimum of $1,000 (or 1% of the sale price of the house - whichever is the larger amount) must be put down by the applicant from their own funds. Applicants will also be required to undergo homeownership counseling, which can be done either in person or online, as well as meet certain credit score requirements. Only primary residences under a certain price limit can be purchased using this program. The property must be located in Boone, Cook, DeKalb, Fulton, Kane, Marion, McHenry, St. Clair, Will or Winnebago county. Only one or two-unit, existing residential dwellings are allowed. … ## 5 Star Texas Advantage Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/5-star-texas-advantage-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: 5 Star Texas Advantage Program - State: Texas Content excerpt: This 5 Star Texas Advantage Program is offered by the South-East Texas Housing Finance Corporation (SETH). As much as 6% of the mortgage amount of a borrower is offered as a grant. In certain scenarios, borrowers may qualify for as much as 8%. In order to qualify, borrowers must be income eligible, must be purchasing a house anywhere in Texas except for El Paso, Grand Prairie, or Travis County, and must complete approved SETH Homebuyer Education. Other programs in Texas: My First Texas Home My Choice Texas Home Hill Country Home Down Payment Assistance Home Star Program Homeownership Across Texas Homes for Texas Heroes Program Or click here to search a different state. ## ACRHA Acquisition/Rehabilitation Grant URL: https://www.ratezip.com/acrha-acquisition-rehabilitation-grant - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: ACRHA Acquisition/Rehabilitation Grant - State: New York Content excerpt: Offered by the Albany County Rural Housing Alliance Acquisition (ACRHA). The grant is offered as a forgivable loan to be used to purchase and repair a house. It must be used in a very specific way - 51% must be used for rehabilitation/repair and 49% must be used for down payment and closing costs. The amount of the grant depends on the individual case. Applicants must be first-time homebuyers, meet annual income limits determined by the HUD, finish a homeownership education course, and fall under asset limits. In addition, they must pay for a credit report, start a credit repair program if required, and be able to pre-qualify for a mortgage. They have to put forth at least $1,500 of their own funds for the home and sign a note up to 10 years. In order for a property to be eligible, it must serve as the family’s primary residence, be a 1 or 2 family home, and be in the target area. Mobile homes do not qualify, but priority is given to those living in mobile homes who wish to purchase stick-built homes. Properties must be in need of moderate rehabilitation and be inspected by a NYS licensed home inspector, while also meeting the appraisal criteria of the mortgage lender. … ## ADFA Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/adfa-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: ADFA Down Payment Assistance - State: Arkansas Content excerpt: Developed by the Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA), this down payment assistance program offers between $1,000 and $6,000 to help cover the costs of closing, the down payment, or other prepaid items. This is a second mortgage with a 10-year term. Applicants are allowed to receive cashback for certain expenses outside of the closing costs. This DPA program must be used in combination with an ADFA Move-Up Home Loan. Applicants must also finish a homebuying counseling program. Other programs in Arkansas: American Dream Downpayment Initiative Jonesboro Homeownership Assistance Program City of Pine Bluff Homebuyers Assistance Program City of Fort Smith Down Payment Assistance Program Crawford-Sebastian Homeownership Center Affordable Housing Program Crawford-Sebastian Homeownership Center Down Payment Assistance Or click here to search a different state. ## Administration of Resources and Choices URL: https://www.ratezip.com/administration-of-resources-and-choices - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Administration of Resources and Choices - State: Arizona Content excerpt: Abbreviated as ARC, the Administration of Resources and Choices offers a variety of services in both English and Spanish, including educational workshops on pre-purchase, financial management, budgeting, and credit. The also offer counseling for mortgage delinquency and default, rental housing, and reverse mortgages. They serve primarily Tucson and southern Arizona. • Contact Info: • Website: ARC-AZ.ORG • Phone: 520-623-9383 • Address: • 1625 N.Alvernon Way Suite 101 TUCSON, Arizona 85712-3369 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Arizona Family Housing Resources Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona Western Arizona Council of Governments Chicanos Por La Causa Greater Phoenix Urban League Money Management International - Phoenix Branch NACA Arizona UnidosUS Housing & Financial Empowerment NID Housing Counseling Agency Arizona Take Charge America Trellis Comite de Bien Estar, … ## Advantage Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/advantage-down-payment-and-closing-cost-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Advantage Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance - State: Maine Content excerpt: For those utilizing a MaineHousing First Home, Salute ME or Mobile Home Self-Insured Home Mortgage, Advantage Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance offers $3,500 to be used for the down payment, closing costs, or other eligible items associated with a home purchase. The applicant must be able to put forth at least 1% of the first mortgage amount towards the home purchase. However, this amount can be from gift funds. Homebuyer education must be finished before closing can occur. Income and purchase limits apply. Other programs in Maine: Pre-1976 Mobile Home Replacement Initiative Purchase Plus Improvement Program Auburn HOMEbuyer Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Affordable Housing Enhanced Loan Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/affordable-housing-enhanced-loan-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Affordable Housing Enhanced Loan Program - State: Alaska Content excerpt: AHELP, or the Affordable Housing Enhanced Loan Program, is offered through the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation in combination with other governmental or nonprofit agencies as well as regional housing authorities. It provides down payment assistance and secondary financing options to eligible applicants. The assistance that is offered can be either a loan, a forgivable loan, a deferred payment loan, a grant, or a combination of these. Applicants must match the requirements of the provider of the assistance (either a governmental agency, nonprofit, or regional housing authority), as well as a set of universal AHELP requirements. These requirements include finishing a homebuyer education course as well as not owning a secondary residential property in the nearby area. In order for a property to qualify for AHELP, it must be an owner-occupied single-family house, condominium, unit in a Common Interest Community, or a Type I manufactured home. If the house was constructed before 1992, it must also be inspected. Other programs in Alaska: Cook Inlet Down Payment Assistance Program Home Opportunity Program THRHA Down Payment Assistance Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Alabama Council on Human Relations, Inc URL: https://www.ratezip.com/alabama-council-on-human-relations-inc - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Alabama Council on Human Relations, Inc - State: Alabama Content excerpt: The Alabama Council on Human Relations, Inc, (ACHR) is an HUD-approved agency under the United Way of Central Alabama, Inc organization. Services are available in both English and Spanish, with multiple education and counseling classes offered. These include Financial Management/Budget Counseling, Mortgage Delinquency and Default Resolution Counseling, Non-Delinquency Post Purchase Workshops, Pre-purchase Counseling, Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Workshops, and Rental Housing Counseling. Contact Info: Website: www.achr.com Phone: 334-821-8336 Address: 950 Shelton Mill Rd. Auburn, Alabama 36830-2736 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Alabama: Alabama Council on Human Relations, Inc Birmingham Urban League Gateway NACA Alabama Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc. Operation Hope Birmingham United Way of Central Alabama, Inc Community Action Partnership of North Alabama Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama Community Action Partnership of Huntsville, Madison, … ## Alabama Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/alabama-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Alabama Down Payment Assistance - State: Alabama Content excerpt: Alabama is a state with rich history. It's also listed as one of the states with the lowest median house prices ! This means if you're looking for a good deal on real estate, Alabama might be the way to go. Local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants, which can also be helpful for homebuyers in Alabama. Such programs are offered by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Alabama Housing Finance Authority. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Alabama, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Click on any program below to learn more and see if it can help with your home purchase! Step Up Program The Step Up Program, offered by the Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA), provides a loan of as much as 3% of the purchase price of a home to eligible applicants to help cover the costs of the down payment, closing costs, and prepaid items. The loan is a second mortgage with a 10-year term and is combined with a 30-year fixed rate mortgage. Interested borrowers must have a minimum credit score of 620, an annual household income of less than $130,600, … ## Alaska Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/alaska-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Alaska Down Payment Assistance - State: Alaska Content excerpt: Alaska is well known for its diverse wildlife and gorgeous landscapes. Rising housing prices may create difficulty for potential homeowners looking to buy in Alaska, however. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, Alaska Community Development Corporation and the Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority are some organizations that offer such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Alaska, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Click on any program below to learn more and see if it can help with your home purchase! Affordable Housing Enhanced Loan Program AHELP, or the Affordable Housing Enhanced Loan Program, is offered through the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation in combination with other governmental or nonprofit agencies as well as regional housing authorities. It provides down payment assistance and secondary financing options to eligible applicants. The assistance that is offered can be either a loan, a forgivable loan, a deferred payment loan, a grant, or a combination of these. … ## Alaska Housing Finance Corporation URL: https://www.ratezip.com/alaska-housing-finance-corporation - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Alaska Housing Finance Corporation - State: Alaska Content excerpt: HomeChoice TM is a six-hour class offered by the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation. It is designed to inform interested homebuyers on important financial considerations when purchasing a house. There is no cost to participate. Anyone can attend HomeChoice, regardless of whether or not the individual is a first-time homebuyer. Some of the topics that will be discussed include comparing lenders and real estate agents, understanding title insurance, options for energy-efficiency, the process of obtaining a home loan, sale and purchase contracts, the importance of home inspections, budgeting, and options for Alaska loans and down payment assistance. The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation also offers on their website the HomeChoice Steps to Homeownership Workbook, for free and for anybody to use. This is the class material that will be covered in the course, but has useful information for anybody thinking about buying a home. While HomeChoice is normally taught in-person, currently it is being held virtually in the form of a webinar due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please check their website to see if courses are still being offered online or in person. In addition to HomeChoice, … ## American Dream Downpayment Initiative URL: https://www.ratezip.com/american-dream-downpayment-initiative - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: American Dream Downpayment Initiative - State: Arkansas Content excerpt: ADDI, or the American Dream Downpayment Initiative, is offered by the Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA). In order to be eligible for ADDI, applicants must fall within certain annual household income limits, be first-time homebuyers, and finish 8 hours of a homebuying counseling course. As much as $10,000 (or up to 6% of the purchase price of the property) is offered as downpayment and closing cost assistance. This is a second mortgage that can be forgiven in annual installments over the course of five years, with the condition that the borrower continues to use the property as their primary residence and pays insurance and taxes on the house. Other programs in Arkansas: ADFA Down Payment Assistance Jonesboro Homeownership Assistance Program City of Pine Bluff Homebuyers Assistance Program City of Fort Smith Down Payment Assistance Program Crawford-Sebastian Homeownership Center Affordable Housing Program Crawford-Sebastian Homeownership Center Down Payment Assistance Or click here to search a different state. ## ARCH East King County Downpayment Assistance Loan URL: https://www.ratezip.com/arch-east-king-county-downpayment-assistance-loan - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: ARCH East King County Downpayment Assistance Loan - State: Washington Content excerpt: For certain cities, this down payment assistance program can be used in combination with a Home Advantage mortgage. As much as $30,000 is offered with a 4% interest rate to help with the down payment. However, the applicant must be able to put down a minimum of 2% of the purchase price from their own funds. Half of this can come from gift funds if necessary. This loan has deferred payment and only becomes due if the property is sold, transferred, refinanced, or is no longer owner-occupied, or when the first mortgage has been paid in full. Applicants must attend both a homebuying seminar and individual homebuyer counseling. This program is available in the following cities: Beaux Arts Village, Bellevue, Bothell, Clyde Hill, Hunts Point, Issaquah, Kenmore, Kirkland, Medina, Mercer Island, Newcastle, Redmond, Sammamish, Woodinville, and Yarrow Point. Only properties that will be owner-occupied will be allowed. Furthermore, the property cannot have had any tenants occupying it within 90 days of closing or the sale agreement. As of 2022, … ## Arizona Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/arizona-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Arizona Down Payment Assistance - State: Arizona Content excerpt: Arizona is home to the Grand Canyon, as well as hot, beautiful weather and several other parks and monuments. If you want to purchase a house in Arizona, you may be able to utilize a grant or down payment assistance offered by local or national organizations. Some of these organizations include Family Housing Resources (FHR), the Arizona Housing Finance Authority, and the Arizona Department of Housing. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Arizona, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Click on any program below to learn more and see if it can help with your home purchase! HOME Down Payment Assistance Program The HOME Down Payment Assistance Program is offered by Family Housing Resources (FHR). An amount of 3.5% of the purchase price (or $3,700, whichever is less) is offered to qualified applicants. This can be used for prepaid items, closings costs, or the down payment. The property being purchased must be in Pima County, Tucson, and must be the homebuyer’s primary residence. The purchase price cannot be more than the appraised value, must be inspected, and must meet HUD and local code standards. In order for a homebuyer to be eligible, … ## Arkansas Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/arkansas-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Arkansas Down Payment Assistance - State: Arkansas Content excerpt: Arkansas, also known as the Natural State, is a famous for its quartz production, spinach farms, folk music, and archery. It's also one of the states with the lowest average mortgage debt and median house prices! This means if you're looking to purchase real estate, you might find a good deal in Arkansas. There are also local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The Arkansas Development Finance Authority and other organizations offer the following programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Arkansas, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Click on any program below to learn more and see if it can help with your home purchase! ADFA Down Payment Assistance American Dream Downpayment Initiative Jonesboro Homeownership Assistance Program City of Pine Bluff Homebuyers Assistance Program City of Fort Smith Down Payment Assistance Program Crawford-Sebastian Homeownership Center Affordable Housing Program Crawford-Sebastian Homeownership Center Down Payment Assistance ADFA Down Payment Assistance Developed by the Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA), … ## Auburn HOMEbuyer Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/auburn-homebuyer-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Auburn HOMEbuyer Program - State: Maine Content excerpt: Offered through the Community Development Department, the HOMEbuyer Program gives a $5,000 grant to eligible low-to-moderate income homebuyers in Auburn or Lewiston. This amount can be put towards the down payment or closing. This is a grant with a five-to-one match, which means that the applicant must have $1,000 to put towards the home purchase. Applicants cannot already own residential property. Furthermore, the applicant’s cash assets cannot be more than $15,000. The property to be purchased using this grant must be inspected. Income limits apply. Applicants may also be eligible for forgivable loans for up to $10,000. Other programs in Maine: Advantage Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Pre-1976 Mobile Home Replacement Initiative Purchase Plus Improvement Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Bellingham Downpayment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/bellingham-downpayment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Bellingham Downpayment Assistance - State: Washington Content excerpt: If you live in Bellingham, Washington, and have a Home Advantage or House Key Opportunity first mortgage, then you may be able to qualify for this down payment assistance program from the Washington State Housing Finance Commission. As much as $40,000 is offered in the form of a second mortgage with 3% interest and deferred payment. Payment is only due when the property has been sold, transferred, refinanced, is no longer owner-occupied, or when the first mortgage has been paid off. The applicant must be able to put down at least $2,500 towards the home purchase, or 1% of the sales price, whichever amount is larger. However, as much as 25% of the required amount can be from gift funds (but the rest must come from the applicant’s own assets). Only first-time homebuyers can apply, and they must attend both a homebuying seminar and individual homebuyer counseling before they will be approved. Applicants must also fall within specified income limits, … ## Birmingham Urban League URL: https://www.ratezip.com/birmingham-urban-league - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Birmingham Urban League - State: Alabama Content excerpt: The Birmingham Urban League, under the National Urban League, offers the following services for those in Birmingham, Alabama: - Financial Management/Budget Counseling - Home Improvement and Rehabilitation Counseling - Mortgage Delinquency and Default Resolution Counseling - Pre-purchase Counseling - Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Workshops - Rental Housing Counseling - Homeless Counseling and Services The Birmingham Urban League is an HUD-approved agency. In addition to it’s headquarters, it also has two other office locations in Birmingham. Contact Info: Website: www.birminghamul.org Phone: 205-326-0162 Address: 1229 3rd Ave N Birmingham, Alabama 35203-1628 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Alabama: Alabama Council on Human Relations, Inc Birmingham Urban League Gateway NACA Alabama Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc. Operation Hope Birmingham United Way of Central Alabama, Inc Community Action Partnership of North Alabama Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama Community Action Partnership of Huntsville, Madison, … ## BRAG First Time Homebuyer Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/brag-first-time-homebuyer-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: BRAG First Time Homebuyer Assistance - State: Utah Content excerpt: The Bear River Association of Governments (BRAG) offers education and funding for first-time homebuyers. They have to be contacted directly to determine your eligibility for education, down payment assistance, and/or closing cost assistance. However, this program is only for Box Elder, Rich, and Cache Counties. Other programs in Utah: UHC Down Payment Assistance CDCU Down Payment Assistance West Valley City Down Payment Assistance Grant Welcome Home: Own in Logan Weber Housing Authority Homeownership Assistance Program Own in Odgen Program Davis First Time Home Buyer Clearfield First Time Home Buyer City of West Jordan Down Payment Assistance Program Loan to Own Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Provo Home Purchase Plus Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Brentwood Down Payment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/brentwood-down-payment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Brentwood Down Payment Assistance Program - State: California Content excerpt: Homebuyers in the city of Brentwood may be eligible for this down payment assistance program. Up to $10,000 of assistance funds are offered in the form of loan with deferred payment. Because funding for this program is limited, assistance is offered first-come, first-served to eligible applicants. The loan will need to be paid back once the first mortgage has been paid off, the property is refinanced, or the house no longer serves as the applicant’s primary residence. The loan has a decreasing interest rate which gets lower the longer that the applicant lives in the house. In order to qualify, applicants must have a fixed-rate conventional first mortgage with a preferred lender. Applicants must also be first-time homebuyers, have not owned a house within California for the prior three years, and finish a first-time homebuyer education class. Applicants will also need to fall within an annual household income limit of less than 120% of the area median income. At least 3% of the down payment must be paid for by the applicant out of their own funds. … ## Broward County Homebuyer Purchase Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/broward-county-homebuyer-purchase-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Broward County Homebuyer Purchase Assistance Program - State: Florida Content excerpt: The Broward County Homebuyer Purchase Assistance Program offers down payment assistance for those utilizing Broward County’s First Time Home Buyer Program, a fixed-rate mortgage loan. Assistance is offered through a deferred-payment loan. In order to be eligible, applicants must be first-time home buyers, must have a yearly household income less than 80% of the area median income, and must finish a HUD Counseling seminar. Borrowers must pay at least 1% of the down payment with their own funds and a $750 transaction fee from the Housing Finance Authority (HFA) of Broward County. Eligible properties (including new or existing single-family residences, condominiums, villas, or townhomes) must be the applicant’s primary residence and pass an inspection. Mobile houses and cooperatives are not included. Other programs in Florida: State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program Orange County Down Payment Assistance Program Hardest Hit Fund Down Payment Assistance Escambia County Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Palm Bay HOME Down Payment Assistance Program Or click here to search a different state. ## CAASTLC Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/caastlc-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: CAASTLC Down Payment Assistance - State: Missouri Content excerpt: The Community Action Agency of St. Louis County, Inc. (CAASTLC) offers the following down payment assistance loans: For those in St. Louis County, a zero-interest loan of $3,000 with deferred payments; For those in Florissant, a zero-interest loan of $3,500 with a five-year term that can be forgiven; For those in St. Charles City and/or County or in O’Fallon, a zero-interest loan of $5,000 with deferred payments. For the above loans with deferred payment, the loan amount becomes due when the property has been sold or transferred. For all of the above, applicants must finish a homebuying course as well as individual homeownership counseling. Applicants must also be able to put down at least $1,000 from their own assets towards the purchase. Income limits apply. Other programs in Missouri: First Place Loan Program with Cash Assistance Next Step Cash Assistance Loan Individual Development Account Columbia Homeownership Assistance Program Springfield Down Payment Assistance Or click here to search a different state. ## CalHome Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/calhome-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: CalHome Program - State: California Content excerpt: The CalHome Program, also known as Homebuyer Downpayment and Closing Cost Assistance or DCCA, is available through the San Diego Home Consortium. Up to 17% of the sale price of a property is available for down payment assistance, and up to 4% (but no more than $10,000) is available for closing cost assistance. This is a deferred-payment loan with a 3% interest rate, which accrues annually. The loan amount and any interest become due when the house is refinanced (unless it’s an FHA Streamline Refinance), sold, or is no longer the applicant’s primary residence, or when the first mortgage is paid off. In order to qualify for CalHome, applicants must be first-time homebuyers, cannot have owned a house within the last three years, and fall within an annual household income limit of no more than 80% of the area median income. Further, borrowers must put down at least 3% of the sale price from their own funds, and their first mortgage loan must be the maximum amount they can qualify for. They must also finish an approved homebuying education course. There is also a household size limit - there can only be a maximum of two individuals per living space in a house. … ## California Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/california-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: California Down Payment Assistance - State: California Content excerpt: California is home to beautiful beaches and wonderful culture. It's no wonder, then, that it has some of the highest house prices in the country, and with that, is one of the states with the highest average mortgage debt. This can make home ownership in California difficult. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. Some organizations that offer such programs include the California Housing Agency, the Golden State Finance Authority, the San Diego Home Consortium, and more! If you're thinking about purchasing a home in California, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Click on any program below to learn more and see if it can help with your home purchase! MyHome Assistance Program Brentwood Down Payment Assistance Program Emeryville First Time Homebuyer Loan Program GSFA Platinum Program CalHome Program First Home Mortgage Program Monterey County Down Payment Assistance Program Santa Ana Downpayment Assistance Program Riverside Down Payment Assistance Program School Teacher Employee Assistance Program MyHome Assistance Program Through the MyHome Assistance Program, … ## Capitol Federal Closing Costs Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/capitol-federal-closing-costs-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Capitol Federal Closing Costs Assistance Program - State: Kansas Content excerpt: The CHWC (Community Housing of Wyandotte County) offers the Capitol Federal Closing Costs Assistance Program to qualified applicants. This program is only for those purchasing property in a Low-Income Census Tract. As much as $1,500 is offered as a grant to help pay for closing costs. Applicants who are elderly (55+), physically or mentally disabled, recovering from physical abuse, recovered drug or alcohol addicts, or who have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, or who have a member of their household who fits one of these criteria, will be given priority. Applicants must fall within the following total household annual income limits (as of 2020): 1 person household: $38,350 2 person household: $43,850 3 person household: $49,300 4 person household: $54,800 5 person household: $59,200 6 person household: $63,550 7 person household: $67,950 8 person household: $72,350 Other programs in Kansas: Kansas Housing Assistance Program KHRC First Time Homebuyer Program Federal Home Loan Bank Down Payment Assistance Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona URL: https://www.ratezip.com/catholic-community-services-of-southern-arizona - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona - State: Arizona Content excerpt: Part of Catholic Charities USA, the Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona offers a variety of resources for the community, including those related to housing. In addition to English, Spanish, and select other languages, they also offer services in ASL. Specifically, for housing, they offer counseling for foreclosure prevention, predatory lending, home-buying, down payment assistance, and homelessness. There is no fee for any of these services. • Contact Info: • Website: www.ccs-soaz.org • Phone: 520-622-2801 • Address: • 848 S 7th Ave Tucson, Arizona 85701-2627 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Arizona Family Housing Resources Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona Western Arizona Council of Governments Chicanos Por La Causa Greater Phoenix Urban League Money Management International - Phoenix Branch NACA Arizona UnidosUS Housing & Financial Empowerment NID Housing Counseling Agency Arizona Take Charge America Trellis Comite de Bien Estar, … ## CDCU Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/cdcu-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: CDCU Down Payment Assistance - State: Utah Content excerpt: Down Payment Assistance offered by the Community Development Corporation of Utah includes Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City Plus, Salt Lake City Community Heroes, and Salt Lake County and Taylorsville. For SLC, SLC Plus, Salt Lake County, and Taylorsville, assistance is offered as a forgivable loan. The amount of assistance funds is as much as $14,000 for SLC, SLC Plus, and Community Heroes, and up to $10,000 for Salt Lake County and Taylorsville. Funding for these programs is limited, and therefore is awarded first-come, first-serve. Borrowers must be under-contract for a home purchase at the time of application. It can take around five days after application submission to get a result, and around 30 days for the loan to be processed. Applicants will need to fall within specified income limits, depending on the program they choose. However, for all loans, the property being purchased must be owner-occupied. The applicant DTI cannot be higher than 45%-50% and the housing ratio cannot be higher than 35%-40%. Furthermore, borrowers must have enough funds in reserve to be able to pay for a minimum of one month of housing expenses. … ## Cedar Rapids First Time Home Buyer Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/cedar-rapids-first-time-home-buyer-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Cedar Rapids First Time Home Buyer Program - State: Iowa Content excerpt: This program was temporarily suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of this writing, there is no announcement of when the program will resume. Access to the Cedar Rapids First Time Home Buyer Program down payment assistance is available first-come, first serve. Applications are examined in the order that they are received. Between $1,000 and $14,999 is offered in down payment and closing cost assistance. This is a forgivable loan with a five-year term. Individuals who have owned a house in the prior three years, who have non-occupying coborrowers or cosigners, or who have an ARM with a fixed term for less than 10 years are not eligible. The first time homebuyer requirement can be disregarded in the event that the applicant is a displaced homemaker following a divorce or a single parent following a divorce. Applicants must fall within certain DTI and housing income limits in order to qualify. Applicants must also have no less than $1,000 and no more than $25,000 in non-retirement assets. In the event that an applicant has more than $25,000 in assets, the amount above the limit must be used for the down payment. … ## CHFA Downpayment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/chfa-downpayment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: CHFA Downpayment Assistance Program - State: Connecticut Content excerpt: The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) Downpayment Assistance Program (DAP) is down payment assistance of $3,000 or more in the form of a loan. The interest rate on this loan normally will match the interest rate on the first mortgage of the borrower up to 6%. Borrowers of certain programs (such as the Homeownership Program, the Home of Your Own Loan Program, the Police Homeownership Mortgage Program, and the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Program) may be eligible for a lower interest rate. If you’re interested in DAP, you must have sufficient income to pay both your mortgage loan and your Down Payment Assistance loan, and also have to provide proof that you don’t have enough savings for a down payment. There is a $200 application fee and 3-hour long education course required. This education course is free and must be completed before the closing date. Other programs in Connecticut: CHFA Downpayment Assistance Program Fairfield Homeownership Assistance Program Hamden First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Grant HouseHartford Homebuyer Assistance Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Chicago Home Buyer Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/chicago-home-buyer-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Chicago Home Buyer Assistance Program - State: Illinois Content excerpt: The Chicago Home Buyer Assistance program was founded by the City Council of Chicago. The amount offered depends on the applicant’s income and the loan amount. A grant for as much as 7% of the loan amount can be used to help cover the costs associated with the down payment or closing. This grant can also be used to refinance a property, with the condition that there is no cashback to the borrower. In order to qualify, individuals must meet certain income and credit score requirements. A minimum of $1,000 (or 1% of the sale price of the house, if that amount is less than $1,000) must be put down from the applicant’s own assets. A homebuying education class must also be completed. Single-family houses, townhouses, condominiums and owner-occupied properties (with no more than four units) are all allowed. Other programs in Illinois: Down Payment Plus Programs HOMEbuyer Program 1stHomeIllinois City of Alton’s Homeownership Program Joliet Down Payment Assistance Program Kane County First-Time Homebuyer Program Normal Homebuyer’s Down Payment Assistance Program Romeoville Assist Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Chicanos Por La Causa URL: https://www.ratezip.com/chicanos-por-la-causa - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Chicanos Por La Causa - State: Arizona Content excerpt: Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC) fights discrimination and stands for rights that everyone should have access to, including safe and affordable housing. They are HUD-approved and offer information on, Mortgage Delinquency and Default Resolution Counseling, Pre-purchase Counseling, Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Workshops, and Rental Housing Counseling. Services are offered in both English and Spanish. Contact Info: Website: www.cplc.org Phone: 480-833-0016 Address: 635 E. Broadway RD MESA, Arizona 85204-2023 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Arizona Family Housing Resources Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona Western Arizona Council of Governments Chicanos Por La Causa Greater Phoenix Urban League Money Management International - Phoenix Branch NACA Arizona UnidosUS Housing & Financial Empowerment NID Housing Counseling Agency Arizona Take Charge America Trellis Comite de Bien Estar, … ## CHOICE URL: https://www.ratezip.com/choice - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: CHOICE - State: Georgia Content excerpt: CHOICE is offered by the Department of Community Affairs and provides down payment assistance, mortgage loans, and homebuying education. Eligible applicants can receive as much as $7,500 in down payment assistance. Other applicants may be able to receive as much as $5,000. This is a loan that must be paid back when the property is sold, refinanced, transferred, or is no longer the applicant’s primary residence. Borrowers must be first-time homebuyers who are buying a house in one of the target areas. They also have to be able to provide at least $1,000 towards the purchase from their own funds. In order to qualify for the CHOICE program, the applicant must be disabled or have a disabled family member who is a part of their household. Household income and purchase price limits depend on location. As of 2020, these limits are as follows: For Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Heard, Henry, Jasper, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Spalding, … ## City of Alton's Homeownership Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/city-of-altons-homeownership-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: City of Alton's Homeownership Program - State: Illinois Content excerpt: Eligible applicants can receive as much as $5,000 from the City of Alton’s Homeownership Program. This program is meant for low-income and very-low income buyers. Those in the very-low-income category can receive up to $5,000, and those in the low-income category can receive up to $3,000. This assistance is a loan with a five-year term that can be forgiven. As funds are limited, they are offered first-come, first-serve to qualified individuals. In order to qualify, applicants must have at least a year of clean credit history, finish an approved homebuyer counseling class, and secure a first mortgage. Applicants have to be able to put down a minimum of $1,000 towards the purchase from their own assets. As of 2022, applicants must meet the following annual household income limits: 1 person household - $37,600 2 person household - $43,000 3 person household - $48,350 4 person household - $53,700 5 person household - $58,000 6 person household - $62,300 7 person household - $66,600 8 person household - $70,900 Eligible properties include those located in Alton city that are the primary residence of the applicant and do not exceed property purchase limits. … ## City of Fort Smith Down Payment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/city-of-fort-smith-down-payment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: City of Fort Smith Down Payment Assistance Program - State: Arkansas Content excerpt: Offered by the Crawford-Sebastian Homeownership Center, this program requires that qualified applicants utilize the purchase property as their primary residence, use an approved lender, complete a homebuying education course, and attend 1-on-1 budget counseling. The City of Fort Smith DPA program is available for buyers purchasing a property within the city limits of Fort Smith. 3.5% of the purchase price of the home is available as assistance funds to cover part or all of the down payment and/or closing costs. If there is a demonstrated need, it may also be allowed for a principal reduction of the mortgage loan. This is a loan that does not need to be repaid providing that the buyer uses the house as their primary residence for a minimum of 5 years. The purchase property will need to be inspected, and if it was built prior to 1978, will need to be inspected for lead based paint. This program is for families with low income. … ## City of Pine Bluff Homebuyers Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/city-of-pine-bluff-homebuyers-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: City of Pine Bluff Homebuyers Assistance Program - State: Arkansas Content excerpt: The Homebuyers Assistance Program, offered by the Economic and Community Development Department of Pine Bluff, allows qualified individuals to receive as much as $2,000 for down payment costs and $3,000 for closing costs (which does not include prepaid items). This is a deferred loan with a five-year term and 0% interest. The borrower does not need to pay back the loan unless the house is sold, transferred, refinanced, or otherwise disposed of before the five-year term is over. Qualified applicants must meet specific annual household income limits - they must be of low-to-moderate income and their annual household income cannot be more than 80% of the area median income. Applicants must also pay at least $500 towards the down payment from their own funds. Other programs in Arkansas: ADFA Down Payment Assistance American Dream Downpayment Initiative Jonesboro Homeownership Assistance Program City of Fort Smith Down Payment Assistance Program Crawford-Sebastian Homeownership Center Affordable Housing Program Crawford-Sebastian Homeownership Center Down Payment Assistance Or click here to search a different state. ## City of West Jordan Down Payment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/city-of-west-jordan-down-payment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: City of West Jordan Down Payment Assistance Program - State: Utah Content excerpt: This Down Payment Assistance program, for low-to-moderate income individuals and households, offers no more than half of the down payment and closing costs in the form of assistance funds, or up to $7,500 (whichever is less). In order to be eligible, applicants must fall within specified income limits and stay in the house as their primary residence for at least five years. The loan is forgivable after the five-year period and does not need to be repaid as long as the borrower lives in the house for those five years. Other programs in Utah: UHC Down Payment Assistance CDCU Down Payment Assistance West Valley City Down Payment Assistance Grant BRAG First Time Homebuyer Assistance Welcome Home: Own in Logan Weber Housing Authority Homeownership Assistance Program Own in Odgen Program Davis First Time Home Buyer Clearfield First Time Home Buyer Loan to Own Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Provo Home Purchase Plus Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Clearfield First Time Home Buyer URL: https://www.ratezip.com/clearfield-first-time-home-buyer - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Clearfield First Time Home Buyer - State: Utah Content excerpt: Those buying a single-family detached home in the city of Clearfield can receive as much as $3,000 in the form of a grant. This can cover no more than 50% of the down payment and closing costs. Income limits apply, and the applicant must be a first-time homebuyer. Other programs in Utah: UHC Down Payment Assistance CDCU Down Payment Assistance West Valley City Down Payment Assistance Grant BRAG First Time Homebuyer Assistance Welcome Home: Own in Logan Weber Housing Authority Homeownership Assistance Program Own in Odgen Program Davis First Time Home Buyer City of West Jordan Down Payment Assistance Program Loan to Own Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Provo Home Purchase Plus Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Colorado Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/colorado-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Colorado Down Payment Assistance - State: Colorado Content excerpt: Colorado is a beautiful state with picturesque mountains, wonderful national parks, vibrant cities, and more! However, Colorado is also listed as one of the states with the highest average mortgage debt and median housing costs. This can make home ownership in Colorado difficult. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The Denver Office of Economic Development and the Economic Development Department of El Paso County are two organizations that offer such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Colorado, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! Turnkey Mortgage Program Created by the Economic Development Department of El Paso County, the Turnkey Mortgage Program offers fixed-rate 30 year mortgages and down payment assistance of up to 4% of the loan amount to eligible applicants. This assistance is a grant that does not need to be repaid. In order to be eligible, applicants must be purchasing a home in El Paso County, … ## Columbia Homeownership Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/columbia-homeownership-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Columbia Homeownership Assistance Program - State: Missouri Content excerpt: For low-to-moderate income households looking to purchase a home in the city of Columbia, this program offers as much as 10% of the purchase price of a house, or $10,000, whichever is the smaller amount. This amount can be used to help pay for the down payment, closing costs or for a principal reduction of the first mortgage. Assistance is offered in the form of zero-interest forgivable loan with a ten-year term. Only first-time homebuyers, displaced home-makers, or single parents can qualify for this program. Applicants must be able to put down a minimum of $500 towards the purchase, but cannot have more than $15,000 in liquid assets. Homebuyer education will be required. As of 2020, the minimum combined credit score for the program is 600, but lower scores may be accepted in the right circumstances. The property must be a single or multi-family structure in the city limits of Columbia, but not in a flood plain. An inspection must be done to confirm the structure is up to code. Any deficiencies must be corrected prior to funding. Purchase price limits will apply. In the event that the property was built before 1978 and has deteriorated paint, … ## Comite de Bien Estar, Inc URL: https://www.ratezip.com/comite-de-bien-estar-inc - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Comite de Bien Estar, Inc - State: Arizona Content excerpt: Comite de Bien Estar, which translates to Well Being Committee, is HUD-approved and offers services in both English and Spanish. Some of these services include: - Pre-Purchase Education Workshops - Financial, Budgeting, and Credit Workshops - Mortgage Delinquency and Default Resolution Counseling - Non-Delinquency Post Purchase Workshops Comite works to strengthen the community as a whole, as well as to provide Mexican Americans and immigrants with the resources they need immediately and those that they need to become self-sustainable. It began in 1977, and currently provides help with housing, day care, public schooling, and more. There is a membership fee to join Comite - a $650 initial deposit, a $40 membership fee, and a $5 monthly fee. However, Comite makes it clear that members can pay when they can afford it and is willing to work to help them. For those interested in homebuyer education, their homebuyer education program is a total of 10 hours and offered during nighttime and evening classes. Contact Info: Website: www.comiteaz.com Phone: 928-627-8559 Address: 963 E B St San Luis, … ## Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama URL: https://www.ratezip.com/community-action-agency-of-northwest-alabama - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama - State: Alabama Content excerpt: This HUD-approved agency offers pre-purchase education and workshops, budgeting help, delinquency and default resolution counseling, post-purchase workshops, predatory lending education workshops, rental housing counseling, and homeless services. Contact Info: Website: www.caanw.org Phone: 256-766-4330 Address: 745 Thompson St Florence, Alabama 35630-3867 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Alabama: Alabama Council on Human Relations, Inc Birmingham Urban League Gateway NACA Alabama Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc. Operation Hope Birmingham United Way of Central Alabama, Inc Community Action Partnership of North Alabama Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama Community Action Partnership of Huntsville, Madison, & Limestone Counties Family Services Center Walker County Community Action Agency NID Housing Counseling Agency Alabama Consumer Credit Counseling Service Legal Services Alabama Inc Housing Authority of The City of Prichard Community Service Programs of West Alabama, Inc To search for programs in a different state, click here . ## Community Action Partnership of Huntsville, Madison, & Limestone Counties URL: https://www.ratezip.com/community-action-partnership-of-huntsville-madison-limestone-counties - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Community Action Partnership of Huntsville, Madison, & Limestone Counties - State: Alabama Content excerpt: The Community Action Partnership of Huntsville, Madison, & Limestone Counties offers education and counseling for Finance, Budgeting, Credit, Pre-purchase, Rental, and Homelessness in both English and Spanish. Community Action Partnership is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1965 due to the Economic Opportunity Act. Its national goals include helping low-income households to become more financially self-sufficient, improve living conditions for all, developing a caring community, fostering partnerships between those who can provide services and help and those who need it, increasing their capacity for results, and strengthening and supporting families. Contact Info: Website: www.caa-htsval.org Phone: 256-851-9800 Address: 3516 Stringfield Rd NW Huntsville, Alabama 35810-1758 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Alabama: Alabama Council on Human Relations, Inc Birmingham Urban League Gateway NACA Alabama Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc. Operation Hope Birmingham United Way of Central Alabama, Inc Community Action Partnership of North Alabama Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama Community Action Partnership of Huntsville, Madison, … ## Community Action Partnership of North Alabama URL: https://www.ratezip.com/community-action-partnership-of-north-alabama - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Community Action Partnership of North Alabama - State: Alabama Content excerpt: The Community Action Partnership of North Alabama has two branches - one in Cullman and one in Decatur. Both offer services in English and Spanish. The Cullman branch only offers counseling for rental housing, but the Decatur branch offers all of the following: - Financial Management & Budget Counseling - Financial, Budgeting, and Credit Workshops - Home Improvement and Rehabilitation Counseling - Mortgage Delinquency and Default Resolution Counseling - Pre-purchase Counseling - Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Workshops Contact Info: Website: www.capna.org Phone: 256-260-3108 Address: 1909 Central Pkwy SW Decatur, Alabama 35601-6822 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Alabama: Alabama Council on Human Relations, Inc Birmingham Urban League Gateway NACA Alabama Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc. Operation Hope Birmingham United Way of Central Alabama, Inc Community Action Partnership of North Alabama Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama Community Action Partnership of Huntsville, Madison, … ## Community Service Programs of West Alabama, Inc URL: https://www.ratezip.com/community-service-programs-of-west-alabama-inc - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Community Service Programs of West Alabama, Inc - State: Alabama Content excerpt: This nonprofit, which services Bibb, Choctaw, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Sumter and Tuscaloosa counties, offers a variety of housing information and education. This includes: Financial Management Counseling Budget Counseling Credit Workshops Delinquency and Default Resolution Counseling Pre-purchase Counseling Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Workshops Rental Housing Counseling Rental Housing Workshops The Community Service Program aims to help vulnerable and low-income individuals and households both with immediate concerns as well as long-term goals towards self-sufficiency. Contact Info: Website: www.cspwal.com Phone: 205-469-0394 Address: 601 Black Bears Way Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Alabama: Alabama Council on Human Relations, Inc Birmingham Urban League Gateway NACA Alabama Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc. Operation Hope Birmingham United Way of Central Alabama, Inc Community Action Partnership of North Alabama Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama Community Action Partnership of Huntsville, Madison, … ## Connecticut Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/connecticut-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Connecticut Down Payment Assistance - State: Connecticut Content excerpt: Connecticut has some beautiful towns and countrysides, as well as being relatively close to New York City. It's also a state with one of the highest average mortgage debt amounts. The prospect of a large mortgage can make home ownership difficult. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority and other organizations offer such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Connecticut, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Click on any program below to learn more and see if it can help with your home purchase! CHFA Downpayment Assistance Program The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) Downpayment Assistance Program (DAP) is down payment assistance of $3,000 or more in the form of a loan. The interest rate on this loan normally will match the interest rate on the first mortgage of the borrower up to 6%. Borrowers of certain programs (such as the Homeownership Program, the Home of Your Own Loan Program, the Police Homeownership Mortgage Program, … ## Consumer Credit Counseling Service URL: https://www.ratezip.com/consumer-credit-counseling-service - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Consumer Credit Counseling Service - State: Alabama Content excerpt: Consumer Credit Counseling Service, offered through Lifelines Counseling Services, provides multiple financial education counseling, workshops, and education. Topics are grouped into two main categories: Budget & Debt, and Housing. Budget and Counseling includes budget planning counseling, debt management, credit report review, bankruptcy counseling, student loan counseling, identity theft counseling, and small business ownership counseling. Housing includes pre-purchase and post-purchase counseling, a homebuying workshop, foreclosure prevention, and home equity conversion counseling. Many courses are offered online for a fee; however, the Online Student Loan Counseling class and Online Smart About Money class are both free. Education by Consumer Credit Counseling is required for the Mobile County Down Payment Assistance Program. Contact Info: Website: lifelinesmobile.org Phone: 251-602-0011 Address: 705 Oak Circle Drive East Mobile, Alabama 36609-4221 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Alabama: Alabama Council on Human Relations, Inc Birmingham Urban League Gateway NACA Alabama Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc. … ## Cook Inlet Down Payment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/cook-inlet-down-payment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Cook Inlet Down Payment Assistance Program - State: Alaska Content excerpt: The Cook Inlet DPA program is for qualified individuals in the Cook Inlet region. Assistance is offered in the form 30-year second mortgage loan for up to 20% of the purchase price of the property (but no more than $60,000). As of April 3, 2020, the interest rate for this loan is 4% (4.083% APR), but interest rates are subject to change. Eligible applicants must have a minimum credit score of 640, a maximum first mortgage debt-to-income ratio of 30%, and a maximum total debt-to-income ratio of 40%. Further, all applicants must have a minimum of 2 months of “reserves” in their savings after closing. Reserves include funds to cover principal, interest, taxes, and insurance for the mortgage payment. Applicants also cannot have had a foreclosure or bankruptcy in the last 6 years. Applicants must meet the following annual household income limits (as of 2020): 1 person household: $71,400 2 person household: $81,600 3 person household: $91,800 4 person household: $102,000 5 person household: $110,175 6 person household: $118,350 7 person household: $126,525 8 person household: $134,700 Eligible properties must be a single-family house that serves as the homebuyer’s primary residence. … ## Covington Homebuyer Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/covington-homebuyer-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Covington Homebuyer Assistance Program - State: Kentucky Content excerpt: Those in Covington, Kentucky who are eligible can access as much as $5,000 in down payment assistance funds. This is a 0% interest loan with deferred payment that can be forgiven. In order for the amount to be forgiven, the applicant must use the property as their primary residence for a minimum of 5 years. In the event that the house is no longer the primary residence within 5 years, the loan must be paid off. The Covington Homebuyer Assistance Program is funded by the Department of Development’s HOME program. All borrowers have to undergo homebuyer education and submit a certificate of completion. Borrowers also have to fall within the below annual household income limits as of 2020: 1 person household: $41,850 2 person household: $47,800 3 person household: $53,800 4 person household: $59,750 5 person household: $64,550 6 person household: $69,350 7 person household: $74,100 8 person household: $78,900 In order to be eligible, a property must owner-occupied or vacant when being purchased, must have one or two units, must meet the minimum required housing standards, and fall within certain purchase price limits. … ## Crawford-Sebastian Homeownership Center Affordable Housing Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/crawford-sebastian-homeownership-center-affordable-housing-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Crawford-Sebastian Homeownership Center Affordable Housing Program - State: Arkansas Content excerpt: Offered by the Crawford-Sebastian Homeownership Center, this program requires that qualified applicants utilize the purchase property as their primary residence, use an approved lender, complete a homebuying education course, and attend 1-on-1 budget counseling. A $4,000 grant is available to help cover the down payment and closing costs. The grant does not need to be repaid providing that the buyer uses the house as their primary residence for a minimum of 5 years. In order to receive this grant, the borrower must use Armstrong Bank to finance their mortgage. $500 of the grant must be used as a counseling fee. And additional $500 from the buyer’s own funds must be invested. This program is only available to first-time homebuyers or single parents with dependents. Applicants must also be from a low-income family. This program is only available in certain areas. … ## Crawford-Sebastian Homeownership Center Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/crawford-sebastian-homeownership-center-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Crawford-Sebastian Homeownership Center Down Payment Assistance - State: Arkansas Content excerpt: Offered by the Crawford-Sebastian Homeownership Center, this program requires that qualified applicants utilize the purchase property as their primary residence, use an approved lender, complete a homebuying education course, and attend 1-on-1 budget counseling. This is a 10-year second mortgage to help with the costs of the down payment, closing costs, and other prepaid items. Borrowers can receive between $1,000 and $6,000. Cash back can be offered to homebuyers at the closing in order to pay for expenses that were paid up front. Other programs in Arkansas: ADFA Down Payment Assistance American Dream Downpayment Initiative Jonesboro Homeownership Assistance Program City of Pine Bluff Homebuyers Assistance Program City of Fort Smith Down Payment Assistance Program Crawford-Sebastian Homeownership Center Affordable Housing Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Credit Advisors Foundation URL: https://www.ratezip.com/credit-advisors-foundation - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Credit Advisors Foundation - State: Arizona Content excerpt: Founded in 1991, the Credit Advisors Foundation offers counseling, education, and workshops in English, Spanish, Korean, and select other languages. Topics that they cover include pre-purchase information and mortgage default resolution information. Contact Info: Website: www.creditadvisors.org Phone: 402-514-3340 Address: 7525 E Camelback Rd Ste 210 Scottsdale, Arizona 85251-3550 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Arizona Family Housing Resources Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona Western Arizona Council of Governments Chicanos Por La Causa Greater Phoenix Urban League Money Management International - Phoenix Branch NACA Arizona UnidosUS Housing & Financial Empowerment NID Housing Counseling Agency Arizona Take Charge America Trellis Comite de Bien Estar, Inc Credit Advisors Foundation Housing America Corporation Greenpath Financial Wellness Newtown Community Development Corporation Administration of Resources and Choices Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona Pima County Community Land Trust The Primavera Foundation To search for programs in a different state, click here . ## Cuyahoga County Down Payment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/cuyahoga-county-down-payment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Cuyahoga County Down Payment Assistance Program - State: Ohio Content excerpt: This program, offered by the Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Cleveland, can assist qualified individuals with the expenses associated with a home purchase. Seventeen percent of the house’s purchase price is offered as down payment assistance, and an additional 5% is offered as closing cost assistance. This is a loan with deferred payments, and 50% of the loan amount can be forgiven after a residency of 10 years. Any loan amount due does not need to be paid back until the house is sold or transferred. Only first-time homebuyers who have not owned a home in the previous three years can apply. Applicants must also fall within the below annual household income limits: 1 person household: $38,050 2 person household: $43,450 3 person household: $48,900 4 person household: $54,300 5 person household: $58,650 6 person household: $63,000 7 person household: $67,350 8 person household: $71,700 These numbers are accurate as of 2020. Applicants cannot be behind on their tax payments, nor can their LTV be higher than 80%. Applicants have DTI limits too - 28% for the housing debt-to-income and 43% for overall debt-to-income. … ## Davis First Time Home Buyer URL: https://www.ratezip.com/davis-first-time-home-buyer - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Davis First Time Home Buyer - State: Utah Content excerpt: Those buying homes in Davis County (except for Layton and Clearfield) may receive as much as $7,500 to help with the closing costs and down payment of a home purchase. The applicant must be able to put down a minimum of 50% of the down payment. Income limits apply. Other programs in Utah: UHC Down Payment Assistance CDCU Down Payment Assistance West Valley City Down Payment Assistance Grant BRAG First Time Homebuyer Assistance Welcome Home: Own in Logan Weber Housing Authority Homeownership Assistance Program Own in Odgen Program Clearfield First Time Home Buyer City of West Jordan Down Payment Assistance Program Loan to Own Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Provo Home Purchase Plus Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Dayton Down Payment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/dayton-down-payment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Dayton Down Payment Assistance Program - State: Ohio Content excerpt: Homebuyers in Dayton, Ohio may be able to utilize this down payment assistance program. Offered by the Homeownership Center, as much as 10% of the purchase price of a house can be utilized by first-time homebuyers as down payment and closing cost assistance. This assistance is offered in the form of a loan with 0% interest and deferred payments. It does not have to be paid back until the property is sold, refinanced, transferred, vacated, or becomes a rental property. As funds for this program are limited, its availability is first-come, first-serve. The applicant’s total annual household income must be at or less than 80% of the area median income, or as follows (as of 2020): 1 person household: $35,650 2 person household: $40,750 3 person household: $45,850 4 person household: $50,900 5 person household: $55,000 6 person household: $59,050 7 person household: $63,150 8 person household: $67,200 Applicants must be able to pay a minimum of $500 from their own funds towards the home purchase. Further, applicants must complete homebuyer education and counseling. Houses must be able to pass an inspection; if they cannot, … ## DC Open Doors Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/dc-open-doors-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: DC Open Doors Down Payment Assistance - State: District of Columbia Content excerpt: DC Open Doors is offered through the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency. In addition to home loans, DC Open Doors also provides down payment assistance. For qualifying borrowers with an FHA Plus Loan, DC Open Doors can provide up to 3.5% of assistance, and for those with an HFA Preferred/Advantage Loan, up to 3%. This is a non-amortizing loan with 0% interest that does not need to be paid back unless the property is sold, refinanced, or is no longer the applicant’s primary residence within 5 years after closing. In order to qualify, an individual must have an annual household income limit less than $132,360 as of 2020. They must also have a minimum credit score of 640. For those with an FHA Plus Loan, the highest debt-to-income ratio allowed is 45%, and for those with an HFA Preferred/Advantage Loan, the maximum is 50%. If the applicant is a first-time homebuyer, they must also finish a homebuying education class before closing. Click here to search a different state. ## Delaware County Homeownership First Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/delaware-county-homeownership-first-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Delaware County Homeownership First Program - State: Pennsylvania Content excerpt: Eligible applicants in Delaware County can receive up to $5,000 in funds to put towards the down payment and closing costs of a home purchase. The funds must be used for the down payment first, to pay up to 2% of the down payment; any remaining funds can then be put towards closing costs. In order to be eligible for the program applicants must be first-time homebuyers and have not owned a home in the previous three years. They must also contribute at least $1,000 of their own funds towards the home purchase. Applicants must also finish 8 hours of homeownership group counseling sessions, as well as 1 hour of an individual homeownership counseling session. Once the applicant completes the sessions, maintains good credit, and finishes their Action Plan, they will receive a Certificate of Achievement. As of 2020, the income limits for this program are as follows: 1 person household - $39,200 2 person household - $44,800 3 person household - $50,400 4 person household - $56,000 5 person household - $60,500 6 person household - $64,950 7 person household - $69,450 8 person household - $73,900 In order for a property to be eligible, it must be a residential, owner-occupied, … ## Delaware Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/delaware-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Delaware Down Payment Assistance - State: Delaware Content excerpt: Delaware is a state full of historical landmarks, beautiful forests, and sandy beaches. Rising housing prices may create difficulty for potential homeowners looking to buy in Delaware, however. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The New Castle County Department of Community Service is one organization that offers such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Delaware, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Click on any program below to learn more and see if it can help with your home purchase! New Castle County Down Payment Settlement Program First-time homebuyers in New Castle County can receive between $1,000 and $5,000 in assistance funds from the New Castle County Department of Community Service’s Down Payment Settlement Program. The assistance can be put towards down payment or closing costs, and the specific amount that an applicant receives is decided by a housing counselor. The assistance is offered in the form of an 8-year loan. The first three years of the loan, monthly payments are not required and interest accrues at a rate of 3%. … ## District of Columbia Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/district-of-columbia - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: District of Columbia Down Payment Assistance - State: District of Columbia Content excerpt: Washington DC is the capital of the United States, and therefore is a political and business hot spot. It's no wonder, then, that it's a state with some of the highest median house prices and average mortgage debt in the country. This can make home ownership in the District of Columbia difficult. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency is one organization that offers such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in the District of Columbia, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Click on any program below to learn more and see if it can help with your home purchase! DC Open Doors Down Payment Assistance DC Open Doors is offered through the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency. In addition to home loans, DC Open Doors also provides down payment assistance. For qualifying borrowers with an FHA Plus Loan, DC Open Doors can provide up to 3.5% of assistance, and for those with an HFA Preferred/Advantage Loan, up to 3%. … ## Down Payment Plus Programs URL: https://www.ratezip.com/down-payment-plus-programs - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Down Payment Plus Programs - State: Illinois Content excerpt: Offered by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, there are two Down Payment Plus programs that borrowers can utilize for down payment and closing cost funds. DPP, or Downpayment Plus Program, is a grant that matches the contribution from the borrower’s own funds using a 3:1 ratio, for up to $6,000 (or 25% of the first mortgage - whichever is less). For example, if borrower puts down $1,000, the grant will be in the amount of $3,000, and if the borrower puts down $2,000 or more, the grant will be in the amount of $6,000. These funds can be used for the down payment, closing costs, counseling costs (as much as $700), and certain rehabilitation costs. Downpayment Plus Advantage Program varies slightly, in that it’s only meant for applicants who are working with a non-profit organization which is also a partner of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. The Downpayment Plus Advantage Program is also not required to follow the 3:1 ratio for matching, but still has the $6,000 (or 25% of the first mortgage) cap. While these programs offer grants, the grants would need to be repaid in the event that the property is sold or refinanced within 5 years. In order to qualify, … ## Dubuque First-Time Homebuyer Loan Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/dubuque-first-time-homebuyer-loan-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Dubuque First-Time Homebuyer Loan Program - State: Iowa Content excerpt: Available in the city of Dubuque, as much as $5,000 (or $25,000 for those with an annual household income not more than 30% of the area median income) is offered as closing cost and down payment assistance. This is a long-term loan with 0% interest. Those who receive a $5,000 loan repay it over the course of the next 8 years, and those who receive a $25,000 loan can defer payment for 5 years, and then pay $60 per month for a term of 35 years. Applicants are required to put down a minimum of 3% of the purchase price of the house as the down payment. At least 1% of this must come from the borrower’s own funds, but the remaining 2% can be gifted. The properties purchased using this program must be an owner-occupied, single-family or duplex home. Properties must be inspected prior to approval. Other programs in Iowa: Home$tart and Home$tart Plus Programs Military Homeownership Assistance Program FirstHome Waterloo Down Payment Assistance Program Cedar Rapids First Time Home Buyer Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Easy Close Advantage Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/easy-close-advantage-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Easy Close Advantage Program - State: Wisconsin Content excerpt: The Easy Close Advantage Program is an initiative by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority to help those who otherwise might not be able to afford the down payment of a house. It provides a loan with a fixed interest rate and a 10-year term to help cover the costs of closing and the down payment. In addition, the program provides free homebuyer education and counseling, as well as other resources. This homebuyer education is required prior to an applicant being approved. In order to qualify, an applicant’s household must fall within defined annual income limits and the applicant must have a good credit score. Only primary residences can be purchased using this program. The property must be a single-family or duplex that falls within defined loan limits. If the property is a duplex, landlord counseling will also be required. Click here to search a different state. ## Emeryville First Time Homebuyer Loan Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/emeryville-first-time-homebuyer-loan-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Emeryville First Time Homebuyer Loan Program - State: California Content excerpt: Through the First Time Homebuyer Loan Program, eligible applicants can receive down payment assistance. Assistance is offered in the form of a deferred payment loan. The interest rate for this loan is 75% of the first mortgage’s rate, but not more than 5%. This loan must be repaid when the house is sold, transferred, is no longer the applicant’s primary residence, or after a term of 30 years. Applicants must put down a minimum of 3% of the down payment from their own funds. Most applicants must be first-time homebuyers and have not owned a home in the prior three years in order to qualify. However, exceptions can be made for single individuals who had previously owned a home with an ex-spouse or an ex-domestic partner, or employees of the city of Emeryville or of the Emery Unified School District. Most applicants will also need to meet certain household income limits, and have a total household income less than 120% of the area median income. However, this may not apply if one of the homebuyers is an employee of the city of Emeryville. In order for a house to qualify under this program, it must be the borrower’s primary residence. … ## Escambia County Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/escambia-county-down-payment-and-closing-cost-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Escambia County Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance - State: Florida Content excerpt: The Escambia County Housing Finance Authority (ECHFA) offers this down payment and closing cost assistance program to eligible applicants in Alachua, Bay, Bradford, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Hernando, Indian River, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Marion, Martin, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, St. Lucie, Wakulla, or Walton counties. Down payment and closing cost assistance are offered in conjunction with low-interest-rate mortgages. This program can cover as much as 100% of eligible down payment and closing costs, with the condition that there is no cash-back for the borrower. The type of assistance that is offered differs based on whether the borrower chooses a governmental mortgage program or a Freddie Mac mortgage program. For the Governmental Classic DPA program, assistance is offered in the form of a deferred zero interest non-amortizing second mortgage for as much as $7,500. This loan must be paid back when either the first mortgage has been paid off, or the house has been sold or transferred. For the Conventional DPA program, assistance is offered in the form of a forgivable non-amortizing second mortgage with a 5-year term. … ## Expand to Homeownership URL: https://www.ratezip.com/expand-to-homeownership - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Expand to Homeownership - State: Louisiana Content excerpt: Individuals looking to purchase a home in New Orleans may be able to take advantage of this Expand to Homeownership program. As much as 4% of the loan amount is offered to eligible applicants as a grant to help pay for the down payment and closing costs. In the event that the applicant stops using the property as their primary residence, they may need to pay this grant back. In order to be eligible, an individual must meet specified annual income and loan limits. Further, applicants cannot have a credit score lower than 640 or a debt-to-income ratio more than 45%. Finally, applicants must complete approved homebuyer counseling. Only counseling that has been certified by the Louisiana Homebuyer Education Collaborative will be accepted. Other programs in Louisiana: First-time Homebuyers Assistance Program Home Buyers Assistance Program Participation Initiative (HAPPI) Southern Mortgage Assistance Program Market Rate GNMA Program LHC Preferred Conventional Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Extra Step and Project Reinvest Loans URL: https://www.ratezip.com/extra-step-and-project-reinvest-loans - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Extra Step and Project Reinvest Loans - State: Oregon Content excerpt: Both of these loans are offered by Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services, but they are listed together here because although the programs vary slightly, they have the same requirements Individuals can apply for just one or both of these loans. With the Extra Step loan, as much as $10,000 is offered to help qualified individuals with the expense of the down payment. Applicants for this loan cannot have a total annual household income higher than 80% of the area median income. For the Project Reinvest loan, as much as $10,500 is offered. The difference here is that applicants for this loan can earn as much as (but no higher than) 100% of the area median income. Both loans are meant for first-time homebuyers in Benton, Lincoln, or Linn Counties. Additionally, both loans are interest free with deferred payments. They do not need to be repaid until the property is sold or refinanced. Both loans require a minimum of 8 hours of homebuyer education and 1 hour of homebuyer counseling. There may be additional requirements that you should discuss with your lender. … ## Fairfield Homeownership Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/fairfield-homeownership-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Fairfield Homeownership Assistance Program - State: Connecticut Content excerpt: The Fairfield Homeownership Assistance Program is meant for borrowers in Fairfield, CT. It’s a federally funded Homeownership Assistance Program for income eligible first-time homebuyers. Interested borrowers must take and finish a HUD-certified first-time homebuyer counseling program. Two types of assistance are offered: Down Payment Assistance and Closing Cost Assistance. In Down Payment Assistance, 50% of the down payment is covered (up to $30,000) in the form of a deferred zero-interest loan. This type of loan does not need to be repaid until the borrower either sells the property, refinances, transfers the property, or passes away. In Closing Cost Assistance, up to $2,500 of closing costs are covered. This is a grant and does not need to be repaid. Eligible properties must be owner-occupied and located in Fairfield. The properties can be single-family, two-family or a condominium unit. Investment properties are not included. … ## Family Housing Resources URL: https://www.ratezip.com/family-housing-resources - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Family Housing Resources - State: Arizona Content excerpt: Family Housing Resources (“FHR”) is a nonprofit organization in Arizona. Founded in 1991, FHR is dedicated to providing housing information and resources to the surrounding community. FHR offers both pre-purchase counseling and homebuyer education, in addition to other resources for homebuying, renting, or student loan debt relief. Those interested in its down payment assistance program will need to complete their homebuyer education class first. While FHR normally offers its homebuyer education classes in-person, currently (due to the COVID-19 pandemic), classes are being offered virtually. Please go to FHR’s website to determine if this is still the case. There is a fee associated with FHR’s homebuyer education classes. Classes take about eight hours, can be in either Spanish or English, and can be completed in a schedule that works for you. Information covered in these courses include affordability, credit, comparing real estate agents, how mortgages work and the process of obtaining a mortgage, home inspections, and closing. FHR’s pre-purchase counseling is personalized and offered via telephone for free. … ## Family Services Center URL: https://www.ratezip.com/family-services-center - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Family Services Center - State: Alabama Content excerpt: The Family Services Center, part of the United Way of Central Alabama, Inc., is an HUD-approved agency that offers multiple housing resources. This includes: Homeless Counseling Mortgage Delinquency Prevention and Resolution Workshops Rental House Counseling Pre-Purchase Homebuying Education Pre-Purchase Homebuying Counseling Post-Purchase Workshops (Non-delinquency) Financial, Budgeting, and Credit Education The Family Services Center also offers down payment assistance. Contact Info: Website: fsc-hsv.org Phone: 256-551-1610 Address: 4092 Memorial Pkwy SW Huntsville, Alabama 35802-4365 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Alabama: Alabama Council on Human Relations, Inc Birmingham Urban League Gateway NACA Alabama Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc. Operation Hope Birmingham United Way of Central Alabama, Inc Community Action Partnership of North Alabama Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama Community Action Partnership of Huntsville, Madison, … ## Federal Home Loan Bank Down Payment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/federal-home-loan-bank-down-payment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Federal Home Loan Bank Down Payment Assistance Program - State: Kansas Content excerpt: The Community Housing of Wyandotte County (CHWC) offers the Federal Home Loan Bank DPA Program to qualified applicants. Through this program, individuals can receive as much as $8,000. In order to qualify, an individual must fall within certain income limits and have a loan estimate from a lender. Income limits for 2020 are as follows: 1 person household: $38,350 2 person household: $43,850 3 person household: $49,300 4 person household: $54,800 5 person household: $59,200 6 person household: $63,550 7 person household: $67,950 8 person household: $72,350 Other programs in Kansas: Kansas Housing Assistance Program KHRC First Time Homebuyer Program Capitol Federal Closing Costs Assistance Program Or click here to search a different state. ## First Home Club Matched Savings Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/first-home-club-matched-savings-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: First Home Club Matched Savings Program - State: New York Content excerpt: Homebuyers in New York can get financial assistance through this program. Through the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, qualified participants can earn as much as $4 per every $1 they save in a qualified account. Participants can earn as much as $7,500. Interested applicants must complete a Homebuyer 101 orientation offered by the AHP Homeownership center. The next step is for applicants to meet with a homeownership advisor, and complete program registration and forms. Applicants are required to be first-time homebuyers and have to meet certain income limits. They also must be approved by a bank or credit union and save a minimum of $20 a month for at least 10 months in a qualified account. The income limits are $65,600 for a 1 to 2 person household, and $75,440 for a 3 or more person household. Other programs in New York: ACRHA Acquisition/Rehabilitation Grant Homebuyer Incentive Program Home Acquisition Program First Time Home Buyer’s Program Housing Opportunities Foundation Individual Grant Program Rensselaer County Homebuyer Program Or click here to search a different state. ## First Home Mortgage Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/first-home-mortgage-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: First Home Mortgage Program - State: California Content excerpt: The First Home Mortgage Program was created by the Southern California Home Financing Authority, an authority between Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The Los Angeles County Community Development Commission (CDC) and the Public Finance Division of the County of Orange both oversee the program. Assistance funds are offered in the form of a grant for up to 4% of the mortgage amount. These funds can be used to help cover the costs of the down payment and/or closing. This grant does not need to be paid back. In addition to this program, applicants can also utilize the Home Ownership Program and/or the Mortgage Credit Certificate Program. Applicants must be working with a participating lender in order to receive assistance. Applicants must also have a credit score of at least 640, and a debt-to-income ratio no more than 45%. A homebuying education class must be finished, and a certificate of completion attained with a date not more than 12 months prior to closing. … ## First Place Loan Program with Cash Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/first-place-loan-program-with-cash-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: First Place Loan Program with Cash Assistance - State: Missouri Content excerpt: Qualified individuals in Missouri have the option to get a First Place Loan with or without Cash Assistance. Those who opt to get a loan with Cash Assistance will receive as much as 4% of the first mortgage amount in assistance funds to help with the down payment and closing costs. This is offered as a second mortgage that can be forgiven providing that the borrower uses the property as his or her primary residence for at least ten years. The loan is forgiven at a rate of 1/60 every month starting after year 5. Using this rate, the loan is forgiven entirely by year 10. The lender is allowed to charge the borrower standard closing costs, but junk fees are not allowed. Income limits apply for this program. Purchase price limits also apply. As of 2022, these limits are as follows: Single Family Houses in Target Areas - $381,308 Single Family Houses in Non-Target Areas - $311,979 Duplexes in Target Areas - $488,215 Duplexes in Non-Target Areas - $399,448 Other programs in Missouri: Next Step Cash Assistance Loan CAASTLC Down Payment Assistance Individual Development Account Columbia Homeownership Assistance Program Springfield Down Payment Assistance Or click here to search a different … ## First Time Home Buyer Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/first-time-home-buyer-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: First Time Home Buyer Down Payment Assistance - State: Indiana Content excerpt: The Homeownership Opportunity Network (or HON) offers the First Time Home Buyer Down Payment Assistance program for qualified individuals in specified target areas. Up to $10,000 (or 10% of the sale prices of the house - whichever is the lesser amount) is offered to help cover a principal reduction, down payment, or closing costs. This is a loan that can be forgiven. Individuals can only receive assistance from this program once, and forgivable loans are offered first-come, first-serve. In order to qualify, applicants cannot have owned a house in the previous three years, must be first-time homebuyers, and fall within certain income limits. Applicants must also finish homebuyer counseling and the City of Gary HON Homebuyer Education Workshop. (Other education may be acceptable.) Target areas include Brunswick, Emerson, Horace Mann, Pulaski, Small Farms, Midtown, Aetna, and University Park. … ## First Time Home Buyer Loan Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/first-time-home-buyer-loan-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: First Time Home Buyer Loan Program - State: Oregon Content excerpt: Offered in Corvallis, Oregon, this program provides down payment and closing cost assistance to eligible applicants. As the name suggests, this program is meant for first-time homebuyers, which means those who have not owned a house in the previous three years. However, if ownership of a house was lost as the result of a divorce, that applicant could still be eligible. As much as $20,000 is offered as a 0% loan. Like many other programs, this program has an annual household income limit. This limit is 80% of the area median income, or as shown below (as of 2020): 1 person household: $45,850 2 person household: $52,400 3 person household: $58,950 4 person household: $65,450 5 person household: $70,700 6 person household: $75,950 7 person household: $81,200 8 person household: $86,400 Applicants must also finish a homebuyer education program. Other programs in Oregon: Extra Step and Project Reinvest Loans HOME Foundation Buyers Assistance Grant Or click here to search a different state. ## First Time Home-Buyers Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/first-time-home-buyers-program-2 - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: First Time Home-Buyers Program - State: Tennessee Content excerpt: Through the Housing and Community Development Office of Clarksville, eligible applicants can receive down payment and closing cost assistance. Assistance is offered in the form of a second mortgage. Down payment assistance can be forgiven as long as the applicant uses the house as their primary residence for a minimum of five years and one month. Closing cost assistance needs to be repaid if the property is sold or transferred. Applicants must meet numerous requirements in order to be eligible for this program. One of these requirements is meeting specified income limits. Households must fall within 50% to 80% of the Area Median Limit in Clarksville. As of 2020, these numbers are: 1 person household: $19,000-$30,350 2 person household :$21,700-$34,700 3 person household: $24,400-$39,050 4 person household: $27,100-$43,350 5 person household: $29,300-$46,850 6 person household: $31,450-$50,300 7 person household: $33,650-$53,800 Only first-time homebuyers, displaced homemakers, and single parents are allowed to apply. Each of these has their own specific definitions: a first-time homebuyer is someone who has not owned a house in the past three years; … ## First Time Home Buyer’s Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/first-time-home-buyers-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: First Time Home Buyer’s Program - State: New York Content excerpt: This program is available for first-time homebuyers in Schenectady. Assistance is offered in the form of a second mortgage for as much as 10% of the house’s purchase price, which can be used to pay for the down payment and/or closing costs. Because a second mortgage is a loan, this assistance must be paid back. The assistance has an interest rate of 4% and a 5-year term, but if the applicant lives in the house for at least 5 years, 75% of the loan is converted to a grant that does not need to be paid back. In order to be eligible, applicants must be first time homebuyers and have a mortgage commitment for at least 90% of the purchase price from a lender. In addition to being located in the city of Schenectady, eligible properties must be the homebuyer’s primary residence for at least 5 years, have no more than 3 units, be in standard condition, and pass a C of O and lead-based paint inspection. Income Limits apply. … ## First Time Homebuyer Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/first-time-homebuyer-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: First Time Homebuyer Program Content excerpt: The Community Development Agency of Dakota County offers the First Time Homebuyer Program as a way to help lower-income families become homeowners. Established in 1983, the First Time Homebuyer Program is a deferred-payment loan with 0% interest. The loan amount becomes due once the first mortgage has been paid in full, or when the property is sold or refinanced. However, borrowers can make payments toward this loan (including paying it in full) at any time with no penalty. In order to qualify, the applicant must put down a minimum of $1,000 from their own funds. The amount of assistance received depends on the purchase price of the house and certain household income limits, shown below. At or less than 50% AMI (Area Median Income) - Can receive up to $10,000, or 10% of the sale price of the house (whichever is smaller) Income Limits: 1 person household: $31,650 2 person household: $36,200 3 person household: $40,700 4 person household: $45,200 5 person household: $48,850 6 person household: $52,450 7 person household: $56,050 8 person household: $59,700 Between 50% AMI and 80% AMI - Can receive up to $7,500, … ## First-time Homebuyers Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/first-time-homebuyers-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: First-time Homebuyers Assistance Program - State: Louisiana Content excerpt: This program, available to those in the city of Kenner and created by the city’s Department of Community Development, offers forgivable loans to families with median, moderate, or low income. As much as $50,000 is offered to help applicants pay for the down payment, closing costs, or the principal reduction of their mortgage. This loan is forgivable, but has an occupancy requirement where the applicants has to use the house as their primary residence for a specified amount of time. The time requirement depends on the amount of assistance received. If the applicant receives less than $15,000, the requirement is 5 years. If they receive between $15,000 and $40,000, the requirement is 10 years. If they receive more than $40,000, the requirement is 15 years. The amount of assistance offered depends on multiple factors, including financial need, property selling price, and assets. In the event that the property is no longer used as a primary residence within the time requirement (such as if it is sold, vacated, abandoned, or used as an investment property), the loan will need to be repaid. There are several requirements for properties purchased using this program. … ## FIRSTDown URL: https://www.ratezip.com/firstdown - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: FIRSTDown - State: New Mexico Content excerpt: FIRSTDown, a second mortgage loan to be combined with a FIRSTHome mortgage, offers as much as $8,000 to help with the down payment and closing costs of a home purchase. This second mortgage will have monthly payments. Only first-time homebuyers are eligible for FIRSTDown. In order to get a FIRSTHome mortgage or FIRSTDown payment assistance, the applicant must be working with a participating lender. Income limits apply. Purchase price limits also apply. As of 2020, these limits are as follows: Santa Fe County - $338,824 Los Alamos County - $350,471 All other areas of New Mexico - $271,165 Other programs in New Mexico: NEXTHome HOMENow Or click here to search a different state. ## FirstHome URL: https://www.ratezip.com/firsthome - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: FirstHome - State: Iowa Content excerpt: Through the Iowa Finance Authority, eligible applicants can receive down payment assistance in the form of either a grant or a loan (but not both). Those who receive the grant can access $2,500 to help pay for the down payment or closing. Those who receive the loan can access as much as 5% of the purchase price of the house, but no more than $5,000. This loan does not have any required monthly payments, but must be paid back when the property is sold, refinanced, or when the first mortgage is paid off. Applicants must meet certain household income limits, which depend on county and household size. The maximum purchase price allowed is $283,000, or $346,000 in specified target areas. In order to access the FirstHome program, an applicant must be either a first time homebuyer (not have owned a house in the previous three years), a military member with a discharge other than dishonorable (can’t have used a mortgage revenue bond program previously), or be purchasing a house in a specified target area. Within sixty days of closing, the applicant must be using the property as their primary residence. … ## Fixed Rate Plus Option URL: https://www.ratezip.com/fixed-rate-plus-option - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Fixed Rate Plus Option - State: South Dakota Content excerpt: The Fixed Rate Plus Option, offered by the South Dakota Housing Development Authority, is a program to be added on to a first mortgage. The first mortgage will have an interest rate a little bit higher due to having this program. However, as much as 3% of the loan amount will be offered as a grant that does not need to be paid back to help with the down payment and closing costs. Applicants for this program must fall under defined income limits, which vary on location and change from year to year. Homebuyer education must also be completed. Only primary residences are allowed, and the property cannot cost more than $250,200 (for first time homebuyers) or $305,800 (for repeat homebuyers or those in a target area) as of 2020. Other programs in South Dakota: HAPI Down Payment Closing Cost Assistance Sioux Falls Homebuyer Assistance Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Florida Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/florida-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Florida Down Payment Assistance - State: Florida Content excerpt: Florida has beaches, amusement attractions, pleasantly warm winters, and more! However, rising house prices can make home ownership in Florida difficult. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Florida, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Click on any program below to learn more and see if it can help with your home purchase! Broward County Homebuyer Purchase Assistance Program State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program Orange County Down Payment Assistance Program Hardest Hit Fund Down Payment Assistance Escambia County Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Palm Bay HOME Down Payment Assistance Program Broward County Homebuyer Purchase Assistance Program The Broward County Homebuyer Purchase Assistance Program offers down payment assistance for those utilizing Broward County’s First Time Home Buyer Program, a fixed-rate mortgage loan. Assistance is offered through a deferred-payment loan. In order to be eligible, applicants must be first-time home buyers, … ## Gateway URL: https://www.ratezip.com/gateway - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Gateway - State: Alabama Content excerpt: Located in Birmingham, Gateway offers a variety of counseling, educational classes, and workshops. These include services for pre-purchase, financial management, budgeting, credit, home improvement, rehabilitation, delinquency (resolution and prevention), default resolution, foreclosure prevention, post-purchase, predatory lending education, rental housing, reverse mortgage, and homeless services. Gateway is an HUD-approved agency, which means that it has met and maintained specified conditions that the HUD specifies. There is a fee associated with some of Gateway’s services; however, the amount owed depends on household income, and payment is not required if an individual cannot afford it. Some services, such as foreclosure prevention, are always free. Contact Info: Website: www.gway.org Phone: 205-510-2600 Address: 1401 20th Street South Birmingham, Alabama 35205-4913 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Alabama: Alabama Council on Human Relations, Inc Birmingham Urban League Gateway NACA Alabama Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc. Operation Hope Birmingham United Way of Central Alabama, … ## Georgia Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/georgia-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Georgia Down Payment Assistance - State: Georgia Content excerpt: Georgia is known for pecans, vidalia onions, and, of course, peaches. It's no wonder that many people want to live in this beautiful state. Rising house prices can make home ownership in Georgia difficult, however. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The Department of Community Affairs is one organization that offers such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Georgia, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Click on any program below to learn more and see if it can help with your home purchase! Georgia Dream Homeownership Program The Georgia Dream Homeownership Program is offered by the Department of Community Affairs and provides down payment assistance, mortgage loans, and homebuying education. Eligible applicants can receive as much as $5,000 in down payment assistance. Other applicants may be able to receive as much as $7,500 if they qualify for the PEN or CHOICE programs. This is a loan that must be paid back when the property is sold, refinanced, transferred, or is no longer the applicant’s primary residence. … ## Georgia Dream Homeownership Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/georgia-dream-homeownership-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Georgia Dream Homeownership Program - State: Georgia Content excerpt: The Georgia Dream Homeownership Program is offered by the Department of Community Affairs and provides down payment assistance, mortgage loans, and homebuying education. Eligible applicants can receive as much as $5,000 in down payment assistance. Other applicants may be able to receive as much as $7,500 if they qualify for the PEN or CHOICE programs. This is a loan that must be paid back when the property is sold, refinanced, transferred, or is no longer the applicant’s primary residence. Borrowers must be first-time homebuyers who are buying a house in one of the target areas. They also have to be able to provide at least $1,000 towards the purchase from their own funds. Household income and purchase price limits depend on location. As of 2020, these limits are as follows: For Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Heard, Henry, Jasper, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Spalding, … ## Good Credit Rewards Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/good-credit-rewards-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Good Credit Rewards Program - State: Idaho Content excerpt: The Idaho Housing and Finance Association’s Good Credit Rewards Program offers down payment and closing cost assistance to eligible applicants. Assistance is offered based on need. Applicants can receive up to $8,000 in assistance (or 2.5% of the loan amount - whichever amount is smaller). This is a second mortgage with a 10-year term. The interest rate for this loan is 2% higher than Idaho Housing’s standard interest rate. If the borrower has an Advantage or Preferred first mortgage, their credit score must be no less than 680. If the borrower has a First Loan, their credit score must be no less than 640. If both applicants on the loan are first-time homebuyers, at least one of them will have to finish a Finally Home!® Homebuyer Education class, which offers information about budgets, credit, closing, and other topics. Click here to search a different state. ## Great Choice Plus URL: https://www.ratezip.com/great-choice-plus - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Great Choice Plus - State: Tennessee Content excerpt: Offered through the Tennessee Housing Development Agency, Great Choice Plus allows applicants to access as much as 5% of the property price of a home as down payment and closing cost assistance. This is a second mortgage with 0% interest and deferred payment. The loan only has to be paid back if the property is sold or refinanced, or no longer servers as the applicant’s primary residence. However, in certain cases, the loan amount can be forgiven and does not need to be repaid. Homebuyer education is required prior to approval for this program. Applicants also have to continue to comply with their first mortgage. Great Choice Plus is offered to any qualified applicant who already has a Great Choice Home Loan. Applicants can be first time or repeat homebuyers, as well as military or veteran buyers. The minimum allowed credit score is 640, but if an applicant wants to improve their credit score or has trouble meeting this requirement, they can meet with a certified counselor who may be able to give them suggestions. Applicants also have to fall within a specified household income amount and purchase price limits. … ## Greater Phoenix Urban League URL: https://www.ratezip.com/greater-phoenix-urban-league - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Greater Phoenix Urban League - State: Arizona Content excerpt: The Greater Phoenix Urban League is an HUD-approved agency with help available in both English and Spanish. Some of their services include pre-purchase education, budgeting workshops, home improvement counseling, default resolution counseling, rental housing counseling, and credit information workshops. Contact Info: Website: www.gphxul.org Phone: 602-254-5611 Address: 1402 S 7th Ave Phoenix, Arizona 85007-3902 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Arizona Family Housing Resources Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona Western Arizona Council of Governments Chicanos Por La Causa Greater Phoenix Urban League Money Management International - Phoenix Branch NACA Arizona UnidosUS Housing & Financial Empowerment NID Housing Counseling Agency Arizona Take Charge America Trellis Comite de Bien Estar, Inc Credit Advisors Foundation Housing America Corporation Greenpath Financial Wellness Newtown Community Development Corporation Administration of Resources and Choices Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona Pima County Community Land Trust The Primavera Foundation To search for programs in a different state, click here . ## Greenpath Financial Wellness URL: https://www.ratezip.com/greenpath-financial-wellness - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Greenpath Financial Wellness - State: Arizona Content excerpt: Greenpath Financial Wellness has an Arizona branch in Tempe, where they offer financial and budgeting help, pre-purchase and rental counseling, delinquency and default resolution counseling, and services for the homeless. They have both English and Spanish speaking staff members. • Contact Info: • Website: www.greenpath.org • Phone: 888-860-4167 • Address: • 4700 S Mill Ave Other housing education and counseling agencies in Arizona Family Housing Resources Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona Western Arizona Council of Governments Chicanos Por La Causa Greater Phoenix Urban League Money Management International - Phoenix Branch NACA Arizona UnidosUS Housing & Financial Empowerment NID Housing Counseling Agency Arizona Take Charge America Trellis Comite de Bien Estar, Inc Credit Advisors Foundation Housing America Corporation Greenpath Financial Wellness Newtown Community Development Corporation Administration of Resources and Choices Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona Pima County Community Land Trust The Primavera Foundation To search for programs in a different state, click here . ## GSFA Platinum Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/gsfa-platinum-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: GSFA Platinum Program - State: California Content excerpt: The Golden State Finance Authority (GSFA) offers its Platinum Program to help with the down payment and closing costs of a home loan. Assistance is offered in the form of a grant for up to 5% of the loan amount. This does not need to be paid back. Eligible applicants must be using the house as their primary residence, fall within certain income limits, have a minimum credit score of 640, and a debt-to-income ratio no higher than 50%. Other programs in California: MyHome Assistance Program Brentwood Down Payment Assistance Program Emeryville First Time Homebuyer Loan Program CalHome Program First Home Mortgage Program Monterey County Down Payment Assistance Program Santa Ana Downpayment Assistance Program Riverside Down Payment Assistance Program School Teacher Employee Assistance Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Hamden First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Grant URL: https://www.ratezip.com/hamden-first-time-homebuyer-down-payment-assistance-grant - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Hamden First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Grant - State: Connecticut Content excerpt: This grant is meant for borrowers in Hamden, CT in specific areas: Census Tract #1655 - Highwood, Census Tract # 1656 - Hamden Plains, and the State Street Neighborhood Revitalization Zone. Qualified individuals can receive up to $5,000 in matching funds for down payment assistance. Eligible properties must be the borrower’s primary residence and include detached, single family, and two-to-four family dwellings. Investment properties are not included. Income limits for 2019 are as follows: 1 person 2 people 3 people 4 people 5 people 6 people 7 people 8 people $47,600 $54,400 $61,200 $68,000 $73,450 $78,900 $84,350 $89,800 Other programs in Connecticut: CHFA Downpayment Assistance Program Fairfield Homeownership Assistance Program Hamden First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Grant HouseHartford Homebuyer Assistance Program Or click here to search a different state. ## HAPI Down Payment Closing Cost Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/hapi-down-payment-closing-cost-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: HAPI Down Payment Closing Cost Assistance - State: South Dakota Content excerpt: Homes Are Possible, Inc. (HAPI) offers two types of assistance, one for those in Brown County, South Dakota, and one for those in South Dakota but outside of Brown County. HAPI Down Payment Closing Cost Assistance for those in Brown County offers a $3,500 non-forgivable loan with no interest. This loan is only paid back when your house is sold, refinanced, or the title is transferred. For HAPI Housing Opportunity Funds, a $4,000 forgivable grant is offered to those outside of Brown County. A grant means that it does not need to be paid back as long as the conditions of the grant are met. Homebuyer education must be completed before acceptance to either of these programs. Income limits and other conditions may apply. Other programs in South Dakota: Sioux Falls Homebuyer Assistance Program Fixed Rate Plus Option Or click here to search a different state. ## Hardest Hit Fund Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/hardest-hit-fund-down-payment-assistance-2 - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Hardest Hit Fund Down Payment Assistance - State: Kentucky Content excerpt: The Hardest Hit Fund Down Payment Assistance program, or HHF-DPA, is offered by the Kentucky Housing Corporation. As much as $10,000 is offered to borrowers to help cover the costs associated with the down payment. This is a second mortgage with 0% interest and a five-year term that can be forgiven. To receive this assistance, applicants must not have owned a home in the previous three years, provide their last three years of tax returns or tax transcripts, complete homebuyer education, and meet specified purchase price and income limits. In order for the property to be eligible, it cannot be a new construction, and it must be located within Christian, Hardin, Jefferson, or Kenton County. Other programs in Kentucky: Covington Homebuyer Assistance Program Louisville Down Payment Assistance Program Your Kentucky Home Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Hardest Hit Fund Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/hardest-hit-fund-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Hardest Hit Fund Down Payment Assistance - State: Florida Content excerpt: Hardest Hit Fund (HHF) DPA is offered for eligible applicants in Hillsborough County. The program is run by the Hillsborough County Housing Finance Authority, and borrowers can get access to as much $15,000 through a 0-interest second mortgage. This loan is forgivable, which means that under certain conditions, all or part of it does not need to be paid back. It is forgiven at the rate of 20% per year for 5 years. If the property is refinanced, sold, foreclosed, or is no longer the applicant’s primary residence within the 5-year loan term, the loan becomes due. In order to qualify, applicants have to be first-time homebuyers, permanent US residents, have a FICO mid score of no less than 640, and a debt to income ratio no more than 45%. Applicants will also be required to finish a pre-purchase homebuyer education course that has been selected by the HHF DPA program. Annual household income limits for applicants as of 2022 are $59,800 for a 1 or 2-person household and $68,770 for a 3 or more-person household. In order to be eligible, a property must be the applicant’s primary residence within 60 days of closing and not have a purchase price of more than $253,809 as of 2022. … ## Hawaii Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/hawaii-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Hawaii Down Payment Assistance - State: Hawaii Content excerpt: Homeowners in Hawaii can enjoy a beautiful piece of tropical paradise! However, Hawaii has the highest median housing prices of any state, as well as a high average mortgage debt. This can make home ownership in Hawaii difficult. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The Hawaii Home Ownership Center and the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation are two organizations that offer such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Hawaii, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! HHOC Down Payment Assistance Loan The Hawaii Home Ownership Center and HHOC Mortgage provide this down payment assistance to help cover the costs of the down payment, closing, and other prepaid items. Through this assistance, applicants can receive up to $75,000. This is an amortizing fixed-rate loan with a 15-year term. The interest rate for this loan is as much as 2% more than the first mortgage interest rate. Qualified applicants must have not owned a house in the prior three years, … ## HHOC Down Payment Assistance Loan URL: https://www.ratezip.com/hhoc-down-payment-assistance-loan - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: HHOC Down Payment Assistance Loan - State: Hawaii Content excerpt: The Hawaii Home Ownership Center and HHOC Mortgage provide this down payment assistance to help cover the costs of the down payment, closing, and other prepaid items. Through this assistance, applicants can receive up to $75,000. This is an amortizing fixed-rate loan with a 15-year term. The interest rate for this loan is as much as 2% more than the first mortgage interest rate. Qualified applicants must have not owned a house in the prior three years, be first-time homebuyers, and have a middle FICO score of at least 700. In addition, applicants must have 9 hours of approved homebuying education, which can be completed either in person or online, as well as HHOC counseling. The borrower must be planning to use the house as their primary residence. Single family dwellings, condominium units and townhouses are all allowed. Borrowers must be able to put down at least 5% for the down payment from their own funds. If the applicant is putting only 5% down, then as of 2020 the sales price of the house cannot be more than $500,000. Other programs in Hawaii: Honolulu Down Payment Loan Program Hula Mae Mortgage Loan Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Hill Country Home Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/hill-country-home-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Hill Country Home Down Payment Assistance - State: Texas Content excerpt: The Travis County Housing Finance Corporation offers this Hill Country Home Down Payment Assistance for eligible borrowers with government-backed mortgages. The program offers a grant for as much as 5% of the mortgage to help with the down payment and cost of closing. In order to qualify, an individual must meet a series of requirements, including a credit score no less than 640, a debt-to-income ratio no higher than 45%, and finishing a homebuyer education class. Properties purchased using this program must fall within a specified purchase price, must be in Travis County, must be a primary residence, and cannot be a manufactured house. Other programs in Texas: My First Texas Home My Choice Texas Home 5 Star Texas Advantage Program Home Star Program Homeownership Across Texas Homes for Texas Heroes Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Home Acquisition Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/home-acquisition-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Home Acquisition Program - State: New York Content excerpt: For residents of Albany, the Home Acquisition Program, or HAP, offers financial assistance to households with an annual income of less than 80% of the median income for the area. Interested applicants must not already own a home, be first-time homebuyers, must have assets of less than $40,000, and must use the program to buy a 1-4 unit building, condominium, or cooperative unit in Albany. HAP is offered by the HOME Investment Partnership ACT Program (HOME), and can be used for the down payment or closing costs. The applicants must occupy the property purchased for as long as they have the HAP mortgage. Repayment is required when the applicants leave the house permanently. Property Purchase Price Limits and Income Limits apply. Other programs in New York: First Home Club Matched Savings Program ACRHA Acquisition/Rehabilitation Grant Homebuyer Incentive Program First Time Home Buyer’s Program Housing Opportunities Foundation Individual Grant Program Rensselaer County Homebuyer Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Home Advantage Down Payment Assistance Loan Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/home-advantage-down-payment-assistance-loan-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Home Advantage Down Payment Assistance Loan Program - State: Washington Content excerpt: This down payment assistance program is offered as a 0% interest second mortgage to be used with a HomeAdvantage mortgage loan. Payments on this loan are deferred for up to 30 years. Applicants can qualify for as much as 4% of their first mortgage in assistance funds. For those applying for the need-based option of down payment assistance, applicants are eligible to receive as much as $10,000. The need-based option has a 1% interest rate. Veterans can be eligible for this loan without meeting the need requirement. A homebuyer seminar is required for both options. Applicants also must fall within defined income limits. Other programs in Washington: Tacoma Down Payment Assistance Program Seattle Downpayment Assistance Program Pierce County Downpayment Assistance Program Opportunity Downpayment Assistance Loan Program HomeChoice Down Payment Assistance Program Bellingham Downpayment Assistance ARCH East King County Downpayment Assistance Loan Veterans Downpayment Assistance Loan Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Home at Last Access Down Payment Assistance Grant URL: https://www.ratezip.com/home-at-last-access-down-payment-assistance-grant - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Home at Last Access Down Payment Assistance Grant - State: Nevada Content excerpt: Through the Nevada Rural Housing Authority, eligible applicants can receive as much as $24,000 in assistance funds. This can be used to help cover the down payment of a home purchase. This is a second mortgage with a three-year term that is forgivable providing that the borrower uses the property as their primary residence for at least three years. This second mortgage has no interest and no monthly payments. All applicants will have to finish a homebuying education class, which is offered for free online. In order to qualify, applicants cannot make more than $135,000 if they have a conventional loan, or $116,000 if they have an FHA, VA, or USDA loan. They must also have a minimum credit score of 640. Further, their debt-to-income ratio cannot be more than 50%. Other programs in Nevada: Home Is Possible Down Payment Assistance Grant Or click here to search a different state. ## Home Buyers Assistance Program Participation Initiative (HAPPI) URL: https://www.ratezip.com/home-buyers-assistance-program-participation-initiative-happi - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Home Buyers Assistance Program Participation Initiative (HAPPI) - State: Louisiana Content excerpt: HAPPI is available to those in Shreveport who qualify. As much as 20% of the appraised value or purchase price of the house (whichever is the smaller amount) is offered as down payment and closing cost assistance. Only first-time homebuyers are allowed in the program. Further, individuals must have approved homebuyer education. Applicants must also be credit-worthy and fall within defined annual household income limits. As of 2020, these limits are as follows: 1 person household: $31,750 2 person household: $36,250 3 person household: $40,800 4 person household: $45,300 5 person household: $48,950 6 person household: $52,550 7 person household: $56,200 8 person household: $59,800 Only primary residences are allowed to be purchased using this program. Specific mortgage insurance is required, and minimum property standards must be met. Repossessed or manufactured housing is not allowed, and neither is HUD or VA housing. Other programs in Louisiana: Expand to Homeownership First-time Homebuyers Assistance Program Southern Mortgage Assistance Program Market Rate GNMA Program LHC Preferred Conventional Program Or click here to search a different state. ## HOME Down Payment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/home-down-payment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: HOME Down Payment Assistance Program - State: Arizona Content excerpt: The HOME Down Payment Assistance Program is offered by Family Housing Resources (FHR). An amount of 3.5% of the purchase price (or $3,700, whichever is less) is offered to qualified applicants. This can be used for prepaid items, closings costs, or the down payment. The property being purchased must be in Pima County, Tucson, and must be the homebuyer’s primary residence. The purchase price cannot be more than the appraised value, must be inspected, and must meet HUD and local code standards. In order for a homebuyer to be eligible, they must not have a debt-to-income ratio of more than 45%, must not exceed $10,000 in liquid assets (after contributing to the property purchase), must pay at least $1,000 towards the down payment, must disclose their annual household income, and must complete a Homebuyer Education Class. Further, applicants must not owe money to the City of Tucson for either Section 8 or Public Housing, and must have a minimum of one month’s mortgage payment at the time of closing. Other programs in Arizona: HOME Plus Program Pathway to Purchase Down Payment Assistance Pima Tucson Homebuyer’s Solution Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Home Flex Plus URL: https://www.ratezip.com/home-flex-plus - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Home Flex Plus Content excerpt: Individuals who qualify for the Home Flex Plus program can receive as much as 3% of their loan amount as a grant to help pay the down payment, closing costs, and/or prepaid items of a home purchase. In order to be eligible, applicants must finish a homebuying education class, have a credit score of at least 620, and as of 2020, cannot have an annual household income amount higher than $116,300. The property being purchased must be the applicant’s primary residence and cannot have more than four units. Click here to search a different state. ## HOME Foundation Buyers Assistance Grant URL: https://www.ratezip.com/home-foundation-buyers-assistance-grant - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: HOME Foundation Buyers Assistance Grant - State: Oregon Content excerpt: The HOME Foundation Buyers Assistance Grant is offered by the Rogue Valley Association of Realtors in combination with the Oregon Association of Realtors. As much as $1,000 can be accessed to help with prepaid items, closing costs, or the down payment. In order to be eligible, an applicant must be a first-time homebuyer, meaning they have not owned a house in at least three years. Applicants must also be pre-approved for a loan. As of 2020, the applicant’s income should not be more than $64,000, which is the median income of Oregon. Applicants must also put forth a minimum of $500 from their own funds towards the home purchase. Finally, applicants must complete an approved homebuyer education course and finish approved homebuyer counseling. Only properties serving as the applicant’s primary residence and found in Jackson or Josephine County will be allowed. Other programs in Oregon: Extra Step and Project Reinvest Loans First Time Home Buyer Loan Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Home Is Possible Down Payment Assistance Grant URL: https://www.ratezip.com/home-is-possible-down-payment-assistance-grant - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Home Is Possible Down Payment Assistance Grant - State: Nevada Content excerpt: The Nevada Housing Division offers Home is Possible grants for up to 5% of the mortgage amount in order to help cover the costs of closing and the down payment. This program is available statewide and can be used in combination with the Mortgage Credit Certificate program. In order to be eligible, applicants must have a minimum credit score of 640 (for government loans) or 680 (for conventional loans). Applicants cannot earn more than $98,500 (as of 2020). Applicants will also be required to finish a homebuying education class and pay a fee of $675. This program can only be used to purchase primary residences, and the property cannot have a price higher than $400,000 as of 2020. Other programs in Nevada: Home at Last Access Down Payment Assistance Grant Or click here to search a different state. ## Home Opportunity Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/home-opportunity-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Home Opportunity Program - State: Alaska Content excerpt: The Home Opportunity Program (HOP) was developed by the Alaska Community Development Corporation for low-income first-time homebuyers. HOP offers three types of assistance: down payment assistance, closing cost assistance, and a buy down of the first mortgage. Borrowers can receive up to $3,000 in closing cost assistance and up to $20,000 or $30,000 (for select households below 60% of the median area income) in total assistance. Assistance is offered in the form of a 0% loan. Up to $10,000 of this loan is forgivable under certain conditions. Interested applicants must be working with one of HOP’s participating lenders, which include Academy Mortgage, Cornerstone Home Lending, First National Bank of Alaska, Alaska USA Mortgage Company, Residential Mortgage, Summit Mortgage, Preferred Mortgage, Kodiak Island Housing Authority, Homestate Mortgage, Denali Federal Credit Union, First Bank, True North FCU, NeighborWorks Alaska and USDA Rural Development. Applicants must also meet certain income limits, which depends on their location and number of members in their household. Further, applicants must finish a homebuying education course and not have any unpaid child support payments. … ## HOME Plus Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/home-plus-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: HOME Plus Program - State: Arizona Content excerpt: Created by the Arizona Housing Finance Authority (AzFHA), the HOME Plus Program is a fixed-rate 30-year home loan that also offers down payment and closing cost assistance. This assistance (for up to 5%, or up to 6% for eligible military, Veterans, and National Guard personnel) is offered in the form of a second mortgage with 0% interest and a three-year loan term. The loan is forgiven over the term at a rate of 1/36 for every month. In order to qualify, potential borrowers must meet certain income limits (as of 2020, they cannot exceed $92,984). They also must complete a homebuyer education course. The property being purchased must be the applicant’s primary residence, be in Arizona, and cannot exceed a purchase price of $371,936 (as of 2020). As the allocation of funding is limited, this program may change at any time and priority will be given to those who apply first. Other programs in Arizona: HOME Down Payment Assistance Program Pathway to Purchase Down Payment Assistance Pima Tucson Homebuyer’s Solution Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Home Star Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/home-star-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Home Star Program - State: Texas Content excerpt: This Home Star Program is offered by the South-East Texas Housing Finance Corporation (SETH). As much as 4% of the mortgage amount of a borrower is offered as a grant. Applicants must be able to contribute at least 0.5% of the mortgage amount from their own assets. If the applicant has a credit score of 660 or higher, their maximum allowed debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is 50%, but if their credit score is lower than 660, their maximum allowed DTI is 45%. In order to qualify, the applicant has to complete approved SETH Homebuyer Education and fall within specified income limits. In order for the property to qualify, it must be used as a primary residence, be located in Texas (but not in El Paso, Grand Prairie, McKinney, or Travis County), and must fall within specified sales price limits. Other programs in Texas: My First Texas Home My Choice Texas Home Hill Country Home Down Payment Assistance 5 Star Texas Advantage Program Homeownership Across Texas Homes for Texas Heroes Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Homebuyer Education and Counseling URL: https://www.ratezip.com/homebuyer-education-and-counseling - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Homebuyer Education and Counseling Content excerpt: Choosing to purchase a home is a big decision. Even if you're just thinking about it, learning as much as possible first can help steer you in the right direction. Listed below are homebuyer education classes and counseling services that may be able to help. Homebuyer education or counseling is often required for certain mortgage programs or down payment assistance. If you're planning on applying for a mortgage or program that requires homebuyer education, make sure the class or counseling you take fulfills the requirement. Some programs require specific education or counseling. Search for your state below to get started. More classes coming soon. Alabama Alabama Council on Human Relations, Inc Birmingham Urban League Gateway NACA Alabama Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc. Operation Hope Birmingham United Way of Central Alabama, Inc Community Action Partnership of North Alabama Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama Community Action Partnership of Huntsville, Madison, … ## Homebuyer Incentive Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/homebuyer-incentive-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Homebuyer Incentive Program - State: New York Content excerpt: The Homebuyer Incentive Program (HIP) is offered by the Troy Rehabilitation and Improvement Program (TRIP)’s HomeOwnership Center. Applicants must be first-time homebuyers, meet certain income requirements, and have at least $1,500 in savings. They cannot already have a purchase contract on a house and also have to be willing to commit to a 10-year grant enforcement. Before applying for assistance, applicants must take a pre-purchase program. Assistance is offered in the form of grants of $15,000 to $20,000, and can be used for down payments and/or closing costs. Houses purchased using the program must be located in the city of Troy, owner occupied, and have one or two units. The price of the home must also not exceed 95% of the median purchase price for the area. Properties also must be inspected for code compliance and certain health violations. Income Limits apply. Other programs in New York: First Home Club Matched Savings Program ACRHA Acquisition/Rehabilitation Grant Home Acquisition Program First Time Home Buyer’s Program Housing Opportunities Foundation Individual Grant Program Rensselaer County Homebuyer Program Or click here to search a different state. ## HOMEbuyer Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/homebuyer-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: HOMEbuyer Program - State: Illinois Content excerpt: This program is for applicants in Madison County. In order to be eligible, applicants have to be a first-time homebuyer. Further, applicants must fall within the following total household income limits as of 2022: 1 person household: $45,550 2 person household: $52,050 3 person household: $58,550 4 person household: $65,050 5 person household: $70,300 6 person household: $75,500 7 person household: $80,700 8 person household: $85,900 The property being purchased must be a new-construction or existing one to two-unit family house or condominium. Applicants can receive as much as $5,000 for costs associated with the down payment and closing. This can include appraisal fees, credit report fees, inspection fees, home buyer counseling fees, settlement and title fees, and underwriting and processing fees. Applicants must also be working with a participating Madison County lender. … ## Homebuyers Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/homebuyers-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Homebuyers Assistance Program - State: Indiana Content excerpt: The Homebuyers Assistance Program has been developed by the Lake County Community Economic Development Department. Through this assistance program, as much as $5,000 is offered to eligible applicants to help with the costs of the down payment, closing, and other fees. The annual household income limits for 2020 are: 1 person household: $36,350 2 person household: $41,500 3 person household: $46,750 4 person household: $51,900 5 person household: $56,100 6 person household: $60,250 7 person household: $64,400 8+ person household: $68,500 The Lake County entitlement area includes Cedar Lake, Dyer, Crown Point, Griffith, Highland, Hobart, Lake Station, Lowell, Merrillville, Munster, New Chicago, Schneider, Schererville, St. John, Whiting, Winfield, and all the unincorporated areas in Lake County. Other programs in Indiana: First Time Home Buyer Down Payment Assistance NextHome Or click here to search a different state. ## HomeChoice Down Payment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/homechoice-down-payment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: HomeChoice Down Payment Assistance Program - State: Washington Content excerpt: If you or a member of your household have a disability, you may be eligible for HomeChoice down payment assistance, a program offered by the Washington State Housing and Finance Commission. This is a second mortgage loan for as much as $15,000 to help with the costs of closing and the down payment. It has an interest rate of 1%, but does not need to be repaid until the house is sold, refinanced, or 30 years have passed. HomeChoice is meant to be used with a House Key or Home Advantage first mortgage. In order to qualify, in addition to having a disability or living with a family member with a disability, the applicants have to be either first-time homebuyers or purchasing a house in a designated target area. Applicants also have to attend a seminar about homebuying. Income limits, which vary by location, apply for this program. As of 2022, … ## HOMENow URL: https://www.ratezip.com/homenow - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: HOMENow - State: New Mexico Content excerpt: For low-income households, HOMENow offers as much as $8,000 (or 8% of the purchase price - whichever is less). This is a second mortgage meant to help with the costs of purchasing a home, including the down payment and closing. This loan does not have a monthly payment and is forgivable providing that the applicant uses the property as their primary residence for 10 years, and does not sell, refinance, transfer, rent, or vacate the property in that period. Only first-time homebuyers can qualify. Further, applicants must be able to put down $500 from their own liquid assets towards the home purchase. This amount cannot come from a gift, grant, or different down payment assistance. Applicants must also have a FIRSTHome mortgage to be able to utilize HOMENow. Income and purchase price limits will apply. The minimum allowed credit score is 620. If the applicant does not have a credit history, other ways to measure creditworthiness can be determined. Both homebuyer education and counseling will be required. The property being purchased using this program must be in New Mexico and can be a single-family house, detached site-build, condo, townhome, or planned unit development. … ## Homeownership Across Texas URL: https://www.ratezip.com/homeownership-across-texas - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Homeownership Across Texas - State: Texas Content excerpt: Homeownership Across Texas (HAT) is offered by the South-East Texas Housing Finance Corporation (SETH). As much as 5% of the mortgage amount (for FHA, VA, or USDA loans) or 3% of the mortgage amount (for conventional loans) is offered in the form of a grant. Applicants must fall under specified income limits (which depend on location). Applicants must also have an approved mortgage from a participating lender. The mortgage must be fixed-rate; adjustable rate mortgages are not allowed. In order for the property to qualify, it must be used as a primary residence and be located in Texas (but not in El Paso, Grand Prairie, McKinney, or Travis County). Applicants also have to complete approved SETH Homebuyer Education. Other programs in Texas: My First Texas Home My Choice Texas Home Hill Country Home Down Payment Assistance 5 Star Texas Advantage Program Home Star Program Homes for Texas Heroes Program Or click here to search a different state. ## HOMEownership Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/homeownership-down-payment-and-closing-cost-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: HOMEownership Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program - State: Virginia Content excerpt: This program is offered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. In addition to being first-time homebuyers, applicants for this program must also be creditworthy, have an income at or under 80% of the area median income (which is also determined by location and household size), and complete homebuyer education and counseling. Applicants must also put forth some amount from their own funds towards the home purchase, which varies depending on their income. Those with an income between 50% and 80% must put forth 1% of the sale price of the home, while those with an income lower than 50% must put forth $500. Only the following property types are allowed: one-unit single family homes, two-unit homes as long as the borrower resides in one of the units, condominiums, townhomes, or manufactured homes. For manufactured homes, the house must have permanent utilities and be on owned or leased land. Other programs in Virginia: VHDA Down Payment Assistance Grant Or click here to search a different state. ## HOMEownership Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/homeownership-program-2 - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: HOMEownership Program - State: West Virginia Content excerpt: The HOMEownership Program, a part of the West Virginia Housing Development Fund, offers both a 30-year mortgage loan as well as down payment assistance. If the loan-to-value (LTV) is higher than 90%, $7,500 will be offered as down payment assistance. If the LTV is lower than 90%, $10,000 will be offered. Applicants have to fall within defined income limits. Applicants also have to show that they can maintain a stable credit score, have a steady source of income, and are financially responsible. Furthermore, the house the applicant is buying must fall within defined sales price limits, which vary by location. If the applicant is buying a house in a non-designated target area (Barbour, Berkeley, Boone, Brooke, Cabell, Greenbrier, Hancock, Harrison, Jefferson, Kanawha, Marion, Marshall, Mason Mercer, Monongalia, Morgan, Ohio, Putnam, Raleigh or Wood county), then they must be a first-time homebuyer. The house must be in West Virginia and be owner-occupied. The property being purchased cannot be larger than 5 acres. The applicant may have to partake in homebuyer education and/or counseling. Other programs in West Virginia: Movin’ Up Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Homeownership Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/homeownership-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Homeownership Program Content excerpt: Through the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority’s Homeownership Program, two different types of down payment assistance are offered. This program is meant to help families with low-to-moderate income. This first type of down payment assistance is Repayable. As much as $6,000 is offered as a second mortgage with a term of 10 years and a 2% interest rate. It’s for those who have an income higher than 80% of the area median income, and is used to finance new construction houses. The second type of down payment assistance is Forgivable. As much as $6,000 is offered as a second mortgage, but unlike Repayable DPA, it has 0% interest and does not have any monthly payments. The full loan balance is forgiven as long as the applicant lives in the home for the 10-year loan term. This is for those whose income is less than 80% of the area median income. Both types of DPA applicants must meet specified income and sales price limits. Click here to search a different state. ## Homes for Texas Heroes Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/homes-for-texas-heroes-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Homes for Texas Heroes Program - State: Texas Content excerpt: The Homes for Texas Heroes Program, offered by the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation, is meant to help ensure that people with certain professions that help the community can have the chance to own their own home. This program is offered to allied health faculty members, corrections officers, county jailers, emergency medical services personnel, fire fighters, juvenile corrections officers, military veterans, nursing faculty members, peace officers, professional educators, and public security officers. In addition to a fixed-rate 30-year mortgage, the Homes for Texas Heroes Program provides a grant of between 3% and 5% of the mortgage amount. This can be used to help with the closing costs and down payment. Applicants must be working with a participating lender. Applicants do not have to be first-time homebuyers, but those who are can also apply for a Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) at the same time, saving $500. Other programs in Texas: My First Texas Home My Choice Texas Home Hill Country Home Down Payment Assistance 5 Star Texas Advantage Program Home Star Program Homeownership Across Texas Or click here to search a different state. ## HOMEstead Downpayment and Closing Cost Assistance Loan URL: https://www.ratezip.com/homestead-downpayment-and-closing-cost-assistance-loan - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: HOMEstead Downpayment and Closing Cost Assistance Loan - State: Pennsylvania Content excerpt: Offered through the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), qualified applicants can receive between $1,000 and $10,000 in assistance towards the down payment and closing costs of a home purchase. This assistance is offered in the form of a second mortgage with no interest, and forgiven at the rate of 20% per year, which means that after 5 years, the loan is 100% forgiven. To be eligible for HOMEstead Downpayment and Closing Cost assistance, applicants must match the minimum down payment required by the insurer or guarantor of their mortgage. After the requirement is paid, assistance can be used to cover the rest of the down payment and closing costs. However, in certain situations, it’s possible that additional assistance will be provided to help with further costs of the property. Applicants must also fall within certain income and purchase price limits; however, as these limits vary by county, they should be verified by the consumer. However, because certain cities and counties receive federal funding, this program is not available in those areas. The purchase property must be inspected for lead-based paint and pass the inspection in order to be eligible. … ## Homestretch Down Payment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/homestretch-down-payment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Homestretch Down Payment Assistance Program - State: Georgia Content excerpt: Created by the Gwinnett County Government, the Homestretch Down Payment Assistance Program offers up to $7,500 to qualified borrowers. This is a deferred-payment loan with 0% interest and a five-year term. The principal of this loan is reduced 20% every year. In order to qualify, a borrower must be a first-time homebuyer, have a minimum credit score of 640, and have a maximum debt-to-income ratio of 43%. Borrowers must also complete 8 hours of approved homebuyer education. Eligible properties must be located in Gwinnet County and be the borrower’s primary residence. They must also be a single-family detached house or townhouse. Purchase price limits for 2020 are as follows: Existing home: $165,000 New construction: $228,000 The house must undergo an inspection. If it does not pass, either the seller or the buyer can offer to pay for the repairs. As of 2020, … ## Home$tart and Home$tart Plus Programs URL: https://www.ratezip.com/hometart-and-hometart-plus-programs - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Home$tart and Home$tart Plus Programs - State: Iowa Content excerpt: Both Home$tart and Home$tart Plus are offered by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines. Applicants can receive as much as $7,500 (for Home$tart) or as much as $15,000 (for Home$tart Plus). This can be used to help cover the down payment, closing costs, or rehabilitation. Funds are awarded first-come, first-serve. In order to be eligible, applicants must fall within specified total household income limits. Applicants must also complete homebuyer education. Other programs in Iowa: Military Homeownership Assistance Program FirstHome Waterloo Down Payment Assistance Program Dubuque First-Time Homebuyer Loan Program Cedar Rapids First Time Home Buyer Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Home$tretch Loan Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/hometretch-loan-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Home$tretch Loan Program - State: Wyoming Content excerpt: The Wyoming County Development Authority, or WCDA, offers the Home$tretch Loan Program as a way to help with the costs associated with a home purchase. As much as $10,000 is available as a deferred loan with 0% interest. This loan amount becomes due when the house is sold or refinanced, or when the first mortgage has been paid in full. Applicants must have a first mortgage with an approved participating lender to utilize this program. Applicants must also be able to put down at least $1,500 from their own funds towards the home purchase. However, this can be from gift funds. Finally, applicants must have a credit score of 620 or higher, and have a debt-to-income ratio no more than 41%. Homebuyer education and counseling will also be required. Other programs in Wyoming: Welcome Home Wyoming Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Honolulu Down Payment Loan Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/honolulu-down-payment-loan-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Honolulu Down Payment Loan Program - State: Hawaii Content excerpt: Offered through the City of Honolulu, borrowers can access as much as $40,000 to help with the costs of obtaining a home and home loan. This is a 20-year amortizing loan with 0% interest. Monthly payments are required. In the event that the property is sold or transferred, part of the loan amount will become due, unless the new owner meets the requirements for the loan. Funds have limited availability and will be offered first-come, first-serve to qualified applicants. In order to be eligible, applicants must be first-time homebuyers, finish a homebuying education class, and meet certain income limits. Furthermore, the applicant must be planning to use the house, which must be on Oahu, as his or her primary residence. All properties must be up to code and pass an inspection. As of 2020, … ## HouseHartford Homebuyer Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/househartford-homebuyer-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: HouseHartford Homebuyer Assistance Program - State: Connecticut Content excerpt: The HouseHartford Homebuyer Assistance Program is for borrowers in Hartford, CT. It’s funded by HUD’s HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program. Down payment assistance is offered as a second mortgage for up to 20% of the price of the home, with a maximum amount of $40,000. This second mortgage is forgiven over a 5 to 15 year period, as long as it remains the borrower’s primary residence. Minimum contributions from the borrower’s own funds (of $1,000 for those at less than 50% of the Hartford area median income, or $2,000 for those at between 50% and 80% less than the Hartford area median income) must be made. Applicants must also take and complete an 8-hour homebuyer education class. Income limits for 2019 are as follows: 1 person 2 people 3 people 4 people 5 people 6 people 7 people 8 people $52,850 $60,400 $67,950 $75,500 $81,550 $87,600 $93,650 $99,700 Other programs in Connecticut: CHFA Downpayment Assistance Program Fairfield Homeownership Assistance Program Hamden First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Grant HouseHartford Homebuyer Assistance Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Housing America Corporation URL: https://www.ratezip.com/housing-america-corporation - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Housing America Corporation - State: Arizona Content excerpt: The Housing America Corporation is an HUD-approved non-profit and offers the following education, counseling and workshop topics: - Pre-Purchase - Financial Management - Budgeting - Credit - Mortgage Delinquency - Default Resolution - Post Purchase These services are offered in both English and Spanish. • Contact Info: • Website: www.housingamericacorp.com/ • Phone: 928-627-4221-111 • Address: 130 N. State Avenue Somerton, Arizona 85350 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Arizona Family Housing Resources Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona Western Arizona Council of Governments Chicanos Por La Causa Greater Phoenix Urban League Money Management International - Phoenix Branch NACA Arizona UnidosUS Housing & Financial Empowerment NID Housing Counseling Agency Arizona Take Charge America Trellis Comite de Bien Estar, Inc Credit Advisors Foundation Housing America Corporation Greenpath Financial Wellness Newtown Community Development Corporation Administration of Resources and Choices Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona Pima County Community Land Trust The Primavera Foundation To search for programs in a different state, click here . ## Housing Assistance for Teachers URL: https://www.ratezip.com/housing-assistance-for-teachers - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Housing Assistance for Teachers - State: Mississippi Content excerpt: In order to address a shortage of teachers in parts of Mississippi, the Housing Assistance for Teachers (HAT) program was created by the Mississippi Legislature through the “Mississippi Critical Teacher Shortage Act of 1998.” HAT offers up to $6,000 for the down payment and closing costs, which can be forgiven as long as the individual is employed for at least three years by a school in an area with a teacher shortage. The property that the teacher is purchasing must also be in the area where the teacher will be employed, and must also be designated as a teacher shortage area. No income limits apply to the HAT program, but the applicant must be able to put down at least 1% of the purchase price for the down payment from their own funds. Gift funds are not allowed for this requirement. Applicants must also have at least one month’s worth of housing expenses in reserve. This reserves requirement can be met by gift funds. A list of locations in Mississippi that have a shortage are listed on the Mississippi Home Corporation’s website. These areas need teachers that specialize in the following subjects: Special Education; Mathematics; Foreign Language (French, German, Spanish); … ## Housing Authority of The City of Prichard URL: https://www.ratezip.com/housing-authority-of-the-city-of-prichard - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Housing Authority of The City of Prichard - State: Alabama Content excerpt: Located in Prichard, Alabama, this Housing Authority is an HUD-approved agency that offers workshops, education, and counseling in the following subject areas: fair-housing, pre-purchase, finance management, budgeting, credit, delinquency and default resolution, post-purchase, predatory lending, and rental housing. Education is offered both on an individual basis as well as in groups. Contact Info: Website: www.prichardhousing.com Phone: 251-452-8500 Address: 200 W. Prichard Avenue Prichard, Alabama 36610 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Alabama: Alabama Council on Human Relations, Inc Birmingham Urban League Gateway NACA Alabama Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc. Operation Hope Birmingham United Way of Central Alabama, Inc Community Action Partnership of North Alabama Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama Community Action Partnership of Huntsville, Madison, & Limestone Counties Family Services Center Walker County Community Action Agency NID Housing Counseling Agency Alabama Consumer Credit Counseling Service Legal Services Alabama Inc Housing Authority of The City of Prichard Community Service Programs of West Alabama, … ## Housing Opportunities Foundation Individual Grant Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/housing-opportunities-foundation-individual-grant-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Housing Opportunities Foundation Individual Grant Program - State: New York Content excerpt: This $2,000 grant is offered by the New York State’s NYSAR Housing Opportunities Foundation, Inc. The grant can be put towards the down payment and closing costs, but if the sale closes before funds are awarded, the homebuyer will no longer be eligible. After an applicant is approved, they will have 120 days to access the grant. In order to be eligible, applicants must be first-time home buyers, meet certain income restrictions, and be represented by a realtor. The house being purchased must also serve as the applicant’s primary residence and meet certain purchase price restrictions. Other programs in New York: First Home Club Matched Savings Program ACRHA Acquisition/Rehabilitation Grant Homebuyer Incentive Program Home Acquisition Program First Time Home Buyer’s Program Rensselaer County Homebuyer Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona URL: https://www.ratezip.com/housing-solutions-of-northern-arizona - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona - State: Arizona Content excerpt: Under the Rural Community Assistance Corporation, Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona offers counseling, education, and workshops in both English and Spanish. Topics covered include financial management, budgeting, delinquency and default resolution, post-purchase, pre-purchase, rental housing, and homelessness. Those worried about foreclosure may be able to benefit from Housing Solution’s HUD-approved foreclosure prevention counseling, which is offered for free, or from the Homeowner’s Guide to Success, which can be downloaded at no cost on Housing Solution’s website. The Homeowner’s Guide to Success has information on mortgages and what to do if you’re struggling with your mortgage. Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona began in 1990 (under the name Affordable Housing Coalition). Contact Info: Website: www.housingnaz.org Phone: 928-214-7456 Address: 2304 N 3rd St Flagstaff, … ## Hula Mae Mortgage Loan Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/hula-mae-mortgage-loan-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Hula Mae Mortgage Loan Program - State: Hawaii Content excerpt: The Hula Mae Mortgage Loan Program is available through the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. As much as 3% of the sales price is offered to eligible applicants as down payment assistance. In order to qualify, the applicant must be a Hawaii resident, 18 years old or older, and a US citizen or declarant alien. Only first-time homebuyers are eligible. Previous Hula Mae loan recipients cannot reapply. This down payment assistance must be used for primary residences in Hawaii. The total annual household income limit for 2020 depends on location and number of people in the household: Honolulu County 2 persons or less: $123,600 3 persons or more: $144,200 Maui County 2 persons or less: $107,160 3 persons or more: $125,020 Kauai County 2 persons or less: $98,880 3 persons or more: $115,360 Hawaii County 2 persons or less: $88,080 3 persons or more: $102,760 Other programs in Hawaii: HHOC Down Payment Assistance Loan Honolulu Down Payment Loan Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Idaho Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/idaho-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Idaho Down Payment Assistance - State: Idaho Content excerpt: Idaho has a fast-growing population, as more and more people move there to enjoy it's beautiful countryside! This increased competition and rising real estate prices can make home ownership in Idaho difficult, however. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The Idaho Housing and Finance Association is one organization that offers such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Idaho, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! Good Credit Rewards Program The Idaho Housing and Finance Association’s Good Credit Rewards Program offers down payment and closing cost assistance to eligible applicants. Assistance is offered based on need. Applicants can receive up to $8,000 in assistance (or 2.5% of the loan amount - whichever amount is smaller). This is a second mortgage with a 10-year term. The interest rate for this loan is 2% higher than Idaho Housing’s standard interest rate. If the borrower has an Advantage or Preferred first mortgage, their credit score must be no less than 680. … ## Illinois Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/illinois-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Illinois Down Payment Assistance - State: Illinois Content excerpt: Illinois has a lot of history and is home to both bustling cities and countryside farms. Rising real estate prices can make home ownership difficult for those looking to purchase property in Illinois, however. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The Illinois Housing Development Authority and the City Council of Chicago are two organizations that offer such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Illinois, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Click on any program below to learn more and see if it can help with your home purchase! Down Payment Plus Programs HOMEbuyer Program 1stHomeIllinois Chicago Home Buyer Assistance Program City of Alton’s Homeownership Program Joliet Down Payment Assistance Program Kane County First-Time Homebuyer Program Normal Homebuyer’s Down Payment Assistance Program Romeoville Assist Program Down Payment Plus Programs Offered by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, there are two Down Payment Plus programs that borrowers can utilize for down payment and closing cost funds. DPP, or Downpayment Plus Program, … ## Indiana Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/indiana-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Indiana Down Payment Assistance - State: Indiana Content excerpt: Those looking to buy real estate might consider Indiana, one of the best states for low mortgage debt and low housing costs! Potential home buyers might also find further help from local and national programs that exist to offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Indiana, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! Homebuyers Assistance Program The Homebuyers Assistance Program has been developed by the Lake County Community Economic Development Department. Through this assistance program, as much as $5,000 is offered to eligible applicants to help with the costs of the down payment, closing, and other fees. The Lake County entitlement area includes Cedar Lake, Dyer, Crown Point, Griffith, Highland, Hobart, Lake Station, Lowell, Merrillville, Munster, New Chicago, Schneider, Schererville, St. John, Whiting, Winfield, and all the unincorporated areas in Lake County. … ## Individual Development Account URL: https://www.ratezip.com/individual-development-account - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Individual Development Account - State: Missouri Content excerpt: An Individual Development Account (IDA) is a specialty account offered by the Community Action Agency of St. Louis County, Inc. (CAASTLC). It is a savings account with matching deposits meant to be put towards long-term financial goals, including a home purchase. It can also be used for starting a business or paying for tuition. The account owner must put a minimum of $10 in the account every month. Depending on which plan the account owner has with CAASTLC, their deposits will be matched (for up to $2,000) dollar for dollar or dollar for two dollars for up to two years. The amount that the account owner saves as well as the matched funds can then be put towards their financial goal. Interested individuals must be in the program for no less than six months and pass the required educational class. Income limits will also apply. Other programs in Missouri: First Place Loan Program with Cash Assistance Next Step Cash Assistance Loan CAASTLC Down Payment Assistance Columbia Homeownership Assistance Program Springfield Down Payment Assistance Or click here to search a different state. ## Iowa Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/iowa-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Iowa Down Payment Assistance - State: Iowa Content excerpt: Those looking to buy real estate might consider Iowa, one of the best states for low mortgage debt and low housing costs! Potential home buyers might also find further help from local and national programs that exist to offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Iowa, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Click on any program below to learn more and see if it can help with your home purchase! Home$tart and Home$tart Plus Programs Military Homeownership Assistance Program FirstHome Waterloo Down Payment Assistance Program Dubuque First-Time Homebuyer Loan Program Cedar Rapids First Time Home Buyer Program Home$tart and Home$tart Plus Programs Both Home$tart and Home$tart Plus are offered by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines. Applicants can receive as much as $7,500 (for Home$tart) or as much as $15,000 (for Home$tart Plus). This can be used to help cover the down payment, closing costs, or rehabilitation. Funds are awarded first-come, first-serve. In order to be eligible, applicants must fall within specified total household income limits. … ## Joliet Down Payment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/joliet-down-payment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Joliet Down Payment Assistance Program - State: Illinois Content excerpt: This down payment assistance program for residents of Joliet City offers between $1,000 and 20% of the sales price of a home in down payment assistance. This is a second mortgage with 0% interest that can be forgiven. In order to qualify, an individual must be from a low-income household (with an annual household income that is not more than 80% of the area median income). Applicants must also finish 8 hours of approved homebuyer counseling. They must be able to put down at least $2,500 towards the home purchase from their own assets. Only primary residences are applicable, and the property must be a single-family house, townhouse, condominium, or manufactured home on a fixed foundation. The house cannot have any tenants, and must not be located within the 100-year flood plain. It must also fall within certain purchase price limits. Other programs in Illinois: Down Payment Plus Programs HOMEbuyer Program 1stHomeIllinois Chicago Home Buyer Assistance Program City of Alton’s Homeownership Program Kane County First-Time Homebuyer Program Normal Homebuyer’s Down Payment Assistance Program Romeoville Assist Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Jonesboro Homeownership Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/jonesboro-homeownership-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Jonesboro Homeownership Assistance Program - State: Arkansas Content excerpt: The Homeownership Assistance Program is available through the Grants and Community Development Departments of the City of Jonesboro. The program pays assistance funds to the title company directly. Eligible applicants must have not owned a house in the previous three years, be first-time homebuyers, fall within certain annual household income limits and complete a HUD-approved homebuying education class, which can be done either in person or online. Properties purchased using this program must be in Jonesboro but not in a flood zone. They must also meet the Minimum Housing Quality Standards from the HUD. Other programs in Arkansas: ADFA Down Payment Assistance American Dream Downpayment Initiative City of Pine Bluff Homebuyers Assistance Program City of Fort Smith Down Payment Assistance Program Crawford-Sebastian Homeownership Center Affordable Housing Program Crawford-Sebastian Homeownership Center Down Payment Assistance Or click here to search a different state. ## Kane County First-Time Homebuyer Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/kane-county-first-time-homebuyer-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Kane County First-Time Homebuyer Program - State: Illinois Content excerpt: Offered by the Kane-Elgin HOME Consortium, this DPA program has as much as $10,000 to help eligible applicants with their down payment and closing costs. This is a second mortgage with 0% interest and deferred payments. This loan becomes due when the property is sold, transferred, or when the borrower stops using it as their primary residence. Only first-time homebuyers who have not owned a house in the previous three years can apply. As of 2022, applicants must fall with a total annual household income less than 80% of the area median income. These numbers are below: 1 person household: $52,200 2 person household: $59,650 3 person household: $67,100 4 person household: $74,550 5 person household: $80,550 6 person household: $86,500 7 person household: $92,450 8 person household: $98,450 Applicants must have been living in Kane county for a minimum of one year in order to be eligible. … ## Kansas Down Payment Assisstance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/kansas-down-payment-assisstance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Kansas Down Payment Assisstance - State: Kansas Content excerpt: Those looking to buy real estate might consider Kansas, one of the best states for low housing costs ! Potential home buyers might also find further help from local and national programs that exist to offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The Kansas Housing Resources Corporation is one organization that offers such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Kansas, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! Kansas Housing Assistance Program This program is available due to the efforts and resources of Sedgwick and Shawnee Counties. Applicants can receive as much as 4% of the purchase price of their house to help cover the down payment and closing. A minimum credit score of 660 is allowed, but those with credit scores between 640 and 659 have the option of accessing as much as 3%. Only first-time homebuyers are eligible; however, this requirement is waived for those purchasing in a designated target area. Annual household income limits apply. … ## Kansas Housing Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/kansas-housing-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Kansas Housing Assistance Program - State: Kansas Content excerpt: This program is available due to the efforts and resources of Sedgwick and Shawnee Counties. Applicants can receive as much as 4% of the purchase price of their house to help cover the down payment and closing. A minimum credit score of 660 is allowed, but those with credit scores between 640 and 659 have the option of accessing as much as 3%. Only first-time homebuyers are eligible; however, this requirement is waived for those purchasing in a designated target area. The 2020 annual household income limits are listed below: 1-2 People Household Maximum Income: Kansas City, Leavenworth, Wyandotte, Johnson, Linn & Miami - $72,800 Lawrence, Douglas - $74,700 All Other Areas - $66,700 3+ Person Household Maximum Income: Kansas City, Leavenworth, Wyandotte, Johnson, Linn & Miami - $83,720 Lawrence, Douglas - $85,905 All Other Areas - $76,705 Other programs in Kansas: KHRC First Time Homebuyer Program Federal Home Loan Bank Down Payment Assistance Program Capitol Federal Closing Costs Assistance Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Kentucky Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/kentucky-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Kentucky Down Payment Assistance - State: Kentucky Content excerpt: Those looking to buy real estate might consider Kentucky, one of the best states for low mortgage debt and low housing costs! Potential home buyers might also find further help from local and national programs that exist to offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The Department of Development, the Kentucky Housing Corporation, and the Kentucky Association of Counties are some organizations that offer such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Kentucky, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! Covington Homebuyer Assistance Program Those in Covington, Kentucky who are eligible can access as much as $5,000 in down payment assistance funds. This is a 0% interest loan with deferred payment that can be forgiven. In order for the amount to be forgiven, the applicant must use the property as their primary residence for a minimum of 5 years. In the event that the house is no longer the primary residence within 5 years, the loan must be paid off. … ## Keystone Advantage Assistance Loan Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/keystone-advantage-assistance-loan-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Keystone Advantage Assistance Loan Program - State: Pennsylvania Content excerpt: This is another program offered by PHFA (Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency). Through the Keystone Advantage Assistance Loan Program, eligible applicants can receive assistance in the form of a 10-year, no interest second mortgage to put towards down payments and closing costs. The amount of assistance depends on the market value or purchase price of the property, but homebuyers can receive as much as 4% of the purchase price or market value (or up to $6,000; whichever amount is smaller). The minimum loan amount applicants can receive is $500. Because this assistance is a loan, it needs to be paid back monthly. In order to qualify, applicants must have a credit score of at least 660, and cannot have more than $50,000 in liquid assets after closing on their mortgage. This assistance program can also be combined with other PHFA mortgage loans. Other programs in Pennsylvania: Delaware County Homeownership First Program HOMEstead Downpayment and Closing Cost Assistance Loan Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership DPA Program Or click here to search a different state. ## KHRC First Time Homebuyer Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/khrc-first-time-homebuyer-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: KHRC First Time Homebuyer Program - State: Kansas Content excerpt: This program is offered by the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation, or KHRC. As little as 15% or as much as 20% of the purchase price of the home is offered to applicants in the form of a loan that can then be used to help with the down payment and closing costs. This loan is forgivable over a certain period of time. Only first-time homebuyers (those who have not owned a home in the previous three years) are eligible for this program. Further, applicants must fall within certain income limits. These depend on the location of the property and household size. Applicants must also be able to put down 2% of the purchase price from their own funds. Other programs in Kansas: Kansas Housing Assistance Program Federal Home Loan Bank Down Payment Assistance Program Capitol Federal Closing Costs Assistance Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership DPA Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lancaster-housing-opportunity-partnership-dpa-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership DPA Program - State: Pennsylvania Content excerpt: The Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Program is offered by the Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership (LHOP). By offering a 0% interest loan with no monthly payments, LHOP can offer up to $7,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance. Whether or not the loan is approved is dependent on the availability of funds. Interested applicants must be working with one of LHOP’s partner lenders and must be purchasing a property in Lancaster County. As of 2020, these partners include BB&T, Caliber Home Loans, Ephrata National Bank, First National Bank, Fulton Bank N.A., First Citizens Community Bank, HomeSale Mortgage LLC, M&T Bank, Mortgage Network, New American Funding, PeoplesBank, PNC Mortgage LLC, RMS Mortgage, Santander Bank, Sierra Pacific Mortgage, and USDA Rural Development. In order to qualify, individuals must be first-time home buyers and cannot have owned a home in the previous three years. There can be no non-occupant co-borrowers on the loan. Applicants must contribute a minimum of $1,000 of their own funds towards the home purchase. … ## Legal Services Alabama Inc URL: https://www.ratezip.com/legal-services-alabama-inc - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Legal Services Alabama Inc - State: Alabama Content excerpt: Legal Services Alabama Inc is an HUD-approved counseling agency with services in English, Spanish, and select other languages. It is a non-profit law firm, the only one Alabama that provides legal assistance at no cost. It offers the following: - Information on Financial Management/Budget Counseling - Home Improvement and Rehabilitation Counseling - Mortgage Delinquency and Default Resolution Counseling - Rental Housing Counseling - Services for Homeless Individuals While its main branch is in Montgomery, it also has branches in Anniston, Gadsden, Birmingham, Dothan, Huntsville, Mobile, Selma and Tuscaloosa Contact Info: Website: legalservicesalabama.org Phone: 886-456-4995 Address: 2567 Fairlane Drive Suite 300 Montgomery, Alabama 36116-1643 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Alabama: Alabama Council on Human Relations, Inc Birmingham Urban League Gateway NACA Alabama Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc. Operation Hope Birmingham United Way of Central Alabama, Inc Community Action Partnership of North Alabama Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama Community Action Partnership of Huntsville, Madison, … ## LHC Preferred Conventional Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/lhc-preferred-conventional-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: LHC Preferred Conventional Program - State: Louisiana Content excerpt: The Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) has created the LHC Preferred Conventional Program, a program which can help with closing costs, prepaid items, and the down payment. As much as 4% of the sales price of a home is offered to eligible applicants. In order to qualify, an applicant cannot have an annual income higher than $99,000 or a credit score lower than 640. This program does not have a first-time homebuyer requirement, but first-time homebuyers who apply are required to finish a homebuyer education class. Only single-family properties (with 1 or 2 units) that are owner-occupied are allowed. This program has higher loan-to-value limits (LTV) than FHA loans. The LTV is 97% for 1-unit properties and for 2-unit properties it’s 95%. Other programs in Louisiana: Expand to Homeownership First-time Homebuyers Assistance Program Home Buyers Assistance Program Participation Initiative (HAPPI) Southern Mortgage Assistance Program Market Rate GNMA Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Loan to Own Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/loan-to-own-down-payment-and-closing-cost-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Loan to Own Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance - State: Utah Content excerpt: Loan to Own Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance is a 0% interest loan with deferred payment for as much as $25,000 (for credit scores between 650 and 699) or as much as $40,000 (for credit scores 700 or more). Repayment is only required once the property is either sold or no longer the borrower’s primary residence. In the event that the property is sold or no longer owner-occupied before two years has passed, the borrower will have a $5,000 fine. Applicants must be able to put at least $1,000 from their own funds towards the home purchase. Applicants must have a qualifying mortgage, fall within specified income and debt limits, must have been working at their current place of employment for at least six months, and must be first-time homebuyers (cannot have owned a house in the previous three years). In addition, the applicant’s middle credit score has to be higher than 650, and they cannot have any unsatisfied collections or judgements. Applicants will need to undergo homeownership counseling from an approved course. The applicant’s cash assets at closing cannot be more than $15,000. If married, both spouses have to be on the Loan to Own loan, … ## Louisiana Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/louisiana-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Louisiana Down Payment Assistance - State: Louisiana Content excerpt: Louisiana is home to lots of culture, good music, and tasty food! However, rising real estate prices can make home ownership in Louisiana difficult. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The Louisiana Housing Corporation is one organization that offers such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Louisiana, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Click on any program below to learn more and see if it can help with your home purchase! Expand to Homeownership First-time Homebuyers Assistance Program Home Buyers Assistance Program Participation Initiative (HAPPI) Southern Mortgage Assistance Program Market Rate GNMA Program LHC Preferred Conventional Program Expand to Homeownership Individuals looking to purchase a home in New Orleans may be able to take advantage of this Expand to Homeownership program. As much as 4% of the loan amount is offered to eligible applicants as a grant to help pay for the down payment and closing costs. In the event that the applicant stops using the property as their primary residence, they may need to pay this grant back. … ## Louisville Down Payment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/louisville-down-payment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Louisville Down Payment Assistance Program - State: Kentucky Content excerpt: This Down Payment Assistance Program is offered to those in Louisville by the Department of Housing and Community Development. Assistance is offered in the form of a loan. In order to be considered for this program, and applicant must fall within the below total household annual income limits as of 2020: 1 person household: $37,200 2 person household: $42,500 3 person household: $47,800 4 person household: $53,100 5 person household: $57,350 6 person household: $61,600 7 person household: $65,850 8 person household: $70,100 Applicants also must be approved for a mortgage and be creditworthy. Applicants cannot have more than $15,000 in liquid assets. Finally, applicants must complete homebuyer education. Depending on the amount of the loan, the property must be the borrower’s primary residence for between 5 and 15 years. Only vacant or abandoned homes can be purchased with this program. Other programs in Kentucky: Covington Homebuyer Assistance Program Hardest Hit Fund Down Payment Assistance Your Kentucky Home Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Maine Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/maine-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Maine Down Payment Assistance - State: Maine Content excerpt: Known for its lobster and beautiful coasts, Maine can be a wonderful place to live. It's also one of the states listed for lowest average mortgage debt! Those looking for other ways to help purchase real estate may also be able to utilize grants or down payment assistance loans. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Maine, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! Advantage Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance For those utilizing a MaineHousing First Home, Salute ME or Mobile Home Self-Insured Home Mortgage, Advantage Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance offers $3,500 to be used for the down payment, closing costs, or other eligible items associated with a home purchase. The applicant must be able to put forth at least 1% of the first mortgage amount towards the home purchase. However, this amount can be from gift funds. Homebuyer education must be finished before closing can occur. Income and purchase limits apply. Pre-1976 Mobile Home Replacement Initiative For those living in a mobile home built before 1976, … ## Manufactured Housing Down Payment Loan Programs URL: https://www.ratezip.com/manufactured-housing-down-payment-loan-programs - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Manufactured Housing Down Payment Loan Programs - State: Vermont Content excerpt: Two loans from the Champlain Housing Trust exist to help homeowners or homebuyers move into or convert to energy efficient homes. These loans are only applicable to primary residences, but can be located anywhere in Vermont. Applicants are required to undergo homebuyer education and counseling before they will be approved, and they must have enough equity in the property to secure the loan. Houses used to secure the loan cannot be found in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area. Applicants will be examined for their credit worthiness and debt history. In the event that an applicant has more than $60,000 in liquid assists, further examination may be required. Applicants also have to fall within defined income limits, which depend on location and household size. The first loan offered is for Energy Star Rated Manufactured Homes and is in the amount of $27,500. This loan is meant to help the borrower either buy a new Energy Star Rated Manufactured Home or replace an old manufactured home with a new Energy Star Rated one. The property can be either owned land or in a mobile house park. Applicants must be able to put forth a minimum of $2,500 towards the transaction from their own funds. … ## Market Rate GNMA Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/market-rate-gnma-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Market Rate GNMA Program - State: Louisiana Content excerpt: The Louisiana Housing Corporation has provided the Market Rate GNMA Program to eligible individuals. As much as 4% of the purchase price of the house can be accessed as funds to pay for part or all of the down payment, closing costs, or other prepaid items. As an added bonus, this program does not have any origination or discount fees. In order to qualify, applicants cannot have a credit score lower than 640 or an annual income limit more than 115% of the area median income. Only single-family properties in Louisiana are accepted. Interested individuals should talk with potential lenders about this program. Other programs in Louisiana: Expand to Homeownership First-time Homebuyers Assistance Program Home Buyers Assistance Program Participation Initiative (HAPPI) Southern Mortgage Assistance Program LHC Preferred Conventional Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Maryland Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/maryland-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Maryland Down Payment Assistance - State: Maryland Content excerpt: Known for its history, baseball, and crabs, Maryland can be a wonderful place to live. However, it's also listed as one of the states with the highest average mortgage debt . The prospect of lots of mortgage debt can make home ownership difficult. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Maryland, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! Maryland Mortgage Program The Maryland Mortgage Program (MMP) offers home loans and assistance funds to eligible borrowers. Up to $5,000 of assistance can be used to help cover the costs of the down payment, closing, prepaid items, and escrow expenses. This assistance is offered in the form of loan with deferred payments and 0% interest. The loan amount becomes due once the property is sold, refinanced, no longer the borrower’s primary residence, or the first mortgage has been paid off. Part of this assistance comes from the Partner Match Program, … ## Maryland Mortgage Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/maryland-mortgage-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Maryland Mortgage Program - State: Maryland Content excerpt: The Maryland Mortgage Program (MMP) offers home loans and assistance funds to eligible borrowers. Up to $5,000 of assistance can be used to help cover the costs of the down payment, closing, prepaid items, and escrow expenses. This assistance is offered in the form of loan with deferred payments and 0% interest. The loan amount becomes due once the property is sold, refinanced, no longer the borrower’s primary residence, or the first mortgage has been paid off. Part of this assistance comes from the Partner Match Program, where a participating partner provides funds and MMP matches the funds. Click here to search a different state. ## Massachusetts Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/massachusetts-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Massachusetts Down Payment Assistance - State: Massachusetts Content excerpt: Massachusetts is a rich historical location with many beautiful cities. However, it's also one of the states with the highest mortgage debt and highest median housing prices. This can make home ownership in Massachusetts difficult. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Massachusetts, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! MassHousing Down Payment Assistance Program Down payment assistance is available to first-time homebuyers in Massachusetts who choose to get a MassHousing Loan. Applicants must meet certain income limits in order to qualify. These limits are higher in Boston and certain other gateway cities, which are Attleboro, Barnstable, Brockton, Chelsea, Chicopee, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Methuen, New Bedford, Peabody, Pittsfield, Quincy, Revere, Salem, Springfield, Taunton, Westfield, and Worcester. … ## MassHousing Down Payment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/masshousing-down-payment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: MassHousing Down Payment Assistance Program - State: Massachusetts Content excerpt: Down payment assistance is available to first-time homebuyers in Massachusetts who choose to get a MassHousing Loan. Applicants must meet certain income limits in order to qualify. These limits are higher in Boston and certain other gateway cities, which are Attleboro, Barnstable, Brockton, Chelsea, Chicopee, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Methuen, New Bedford, Peabody, Pittsfield, Quincy, Revere, Salem, Springfield, Taunton, Westfield, and Worcester. As of 2020, income limits are $147,420 for Boston and the other gateway cities, and $113,300 for other parts of Massachusetts. Up to $15,000 (or 5% of the house’s purchase price - whichever is the smaller amount) of down payment assistance is offered in the form of a 15-year loan with a fixed interest rate of 2%. If the property is sold or refinanced before the end of the 15-year loan, repayment of the loan becomes due. Eligible properties include houses with up to 4 units as well as condominiums. Other programs in Massachusetts: Operation Welcome Home Workforce Advantage Or click here to search a different state. ## Metro Mortgage Assistance Plus Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/metro-mortgage-assistance-plus-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Metro Mortgage Assistance Plus Program - State: Colorado Content excerpt: The Metro Mortgage Assistance Plus Program is offered by the Denver Office of Economic Development. Applicants who borrow from a qualifying lender may also be able to receive down payment and closing cost assistance for up to 4% of the loan. This assistance is offered in the form of a grant. In order to be eligible, applicants must have a minimum credit score of 640, and a debt-to-income ratio of not more than 45%. Applicants must also finish an approved homebuyer education class. The annual household income limits for the program for 2020 are $95,880 for a 1 or 2 person household, and $111,860 for a 3 or more person household. The house being purchased using the program must serve as the applicant’s primary residence. Only certain areas of Colorado offer this program. The consumer should verify that they can utilize this program for the area they are looking to purchase in. Single-family, detached homes, duplexes, condominiums, and townhomes are all eligible for this program. Other programs in Colorado: Turnkey Mortgage Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Michigan Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/michigan-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Michigan Down Payment Assistance - State: Michigan Content excerpt: Michigan is well known for fishing, the outdoors, and the automobile industry. It's also listed as one of the states with the lowest average mortgage debt ! Those looking for further help may be able to utilize a local or national program that offers down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The Michigan State Housing Development Authority is one organization that offers such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Michigan, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! Michigan First Home Down Payment Assistance Offered by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), the First Home Down Payment Assistance Program is a second mortgage that must be used with the First Home or Next Home First Mortgage offered by MSHDA. Borrowers interested in this program must finish an approved homebuying education course. Up to $7,500 is offered in the form of a non-amortizing loan with 0% interest and deferred payment. The loan amount becomes due and must be repaid when the property is sold, transferred, refinanced, … ## Michigan First Home Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/michigan-first-home-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Michigan First Home Down Payment Assistance - State: Michigan Content excerpt: Offered by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), the First Home Down Payment Assistance Program is a second mortgage that must be used with the First Home or Next Home First Mortgage offered by MSHDA. Borrowers interested in this program must finish an approved homebuying education course. Up to $7,500 is offered in the form of a non-amortizing loan with 0% interest and deferred payment. The loan amount becomes due and must be repaid when the property is sold, transferred, refinanced, or if the first mortgage is paid off. In most cases, to utilize this program you must be a first-time homebuyer. However, repeat homebuyers are allowed if they are purchasing a property in the following target areas: Alcona, Alger, Allegan, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Baraga, Barry, Benzie, Berrien, Branch, Cass, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Clare, Delta, Emmet, Gogebic, Traverse, Gratiot, Houghton, Ingham, Iosco, Ionia, Iron, Kalamazoo, Keweenaw, Lapeer, Leelanau, Lenawee, Luce, Manistee, Marquette, Mason, Mecosta, Menominee, Missaukee, Montcalm, Montmorency, Newaygo, Oceana, Ogemaw, Ontonagon, Osceola, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon, St. Clair, St. Joseph, Sanilac, Schoolcraft, … ## Michigan Next Home Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/michigan-next-home-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Michigan Next Home Down Payment Assistance - State: Michigan Content excerpt: Offered by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), the Next Home Down Payment Assistance Program is a second mortgage that must be used with the First Home or Next Home First Mortgage offered by MSHDA. Up to $7,500 (or 4% of the purchase price, whichever amount is smaller) is offered in the form of a non-amortizing loan with 0% interest and deferred payment. The loan amount becomes due and must be repaid when the property is sold, transferred, refinanced, or if the first mortgage is paid off. Applicants of this program must be a repeat homebuyer, meaning they cannot use this program to buy their first home. They must have a credit score of at least 660, fall within certain income limits (which depend on location and household size), and finish a homebuying education class. The property being purchased using this program cannot be a manufactured house, nor can it cost more than $224,500 (as of 2020). Other programs in Michigan: Michigan First Home Down Payment Assistance Or click here to search a different state. ## Military Homeownership Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/military-homeownership-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Military Homeownership Assistance Program - State: Iowa Content excerpt: In honor of their service, Iowa offers the Military Homeownership Assistance Program to veterans and service members. Assistance is offered in the form of a $5,000 grant. This can be used to help with the costs of the down payment and closing. In order to be eligible, an individual has to have served a minimum of 90 days in active duty, or be federally recognized as an injured service person, or be a surviving spouse of an eligible service person with any discharge other than dishonorable. All applicants must receive approval for the property. Properties must be in Iowa, occupied within 60 days of closing, be a single family residence, condominium, or townhouse, or a property containing up to 4 units. Other programs in Iowa: Home$tart and Home$tart Plus Programs FirstHome Waterloo Down Payment Assistance Program Dubuque First-Time Homebuyer Loan Program Cedar Rapids First Time Home Buyer Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Minnesota Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/minnesota-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Minnesota Down Payment Assistance - State: Minnesota Content excerpt: Home to beautiful lakes and forests, Minnesota also has the bustling cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Rising real estate prices can make home ownership in Minnesota difficult, however. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Minnesota, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! First Time Homebuyer Program The Community Development Agency of Dakota County offers the First Time Homebuyer Program as a way to help lower-income families become homeowners. Established in 1983, the First Time Homebuyer Program is a deferred-payment loan with 0% interest. The loan amount becomes due once the first mortgage has been paid in full, or when the property is sold or refinanced. However, borrowers can make payments toward this loan (including paying it in full) at any time with no penalty. In order to qualify, the applicant must put down a minimum of $1,000 from their own funds. … ## Mississippi Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/mississippi-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Mississippi Down Payment Assistance - State: Mississippi Content excerpt: Mississippi can be a great place to buy a home, especially considering its one of the states with the lowest average mortgage debt and median housing prices. Those looking for further help may be able to utilize grants and down payment assistance offered by local and national programs. The Mississippi Home Corporation and the Mississippi Legislature are two organizations that offer such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Mississippi, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! Smart Solution Second Offered through the Mississippi Home Corporation, Smart Solution Second is an add-on down payment assistance program to the Smart Solution Mortgage. Smart Solution Second provides a down payment of 3.5% of the house’s purchase price. It’s offered as a second mortgage with a 10-year loan term and the same interest rate as the first Smart Solution Mortgage. The same requirements for the Smart Solution Mortgage apply for Smart Solution Second. Namely, the property being purchased using these programs must be owner-occupied, found in Mississippi, … ## Missouri Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/missouri-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Missouri Down Payment Assistance - State: Missouri Content excerpt: Well known for farming, pizza, and BBQ, Missouri can be a great place to live. Rising real estate prices can make home ownership in Missouri difficult, however. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Missouri, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Click on any program below to learn more and see if it can help with your home purchase! First Place Loan Program with Cash Assistance Next Step Cash Assistance Loan CAASTLC Down Payment Assistance Individual Development Account Columbia Homeownership Assistance Program Springfield Down Payment Assistance First Place Loan Program with Cash Assistance Qualified individuals in Missouri have the option to get a First Place Loan with or without Cash Assistance. Those who opt to get a loan with Cash Assistance will receive as much as 4% of the first mortgage amount in assistance funds to help with the down payment and closing costs. This is offered as a second mortgage that can be forgiven providing that the borrower uses the property as his or her primary residence for at least ten years. … ## Mobile County Down Payment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/mobile-county-down-payment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Mobile County Down Payment Assistance Program - State: Alabama Content excerpt: Through the Mobile County Down Payment Assistance Program, qualified individuals can receive a grant for between $1,000 and $10,000 to help cover costs associated with the down payment and closing. This program is funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. In order to qualify, applicants must either be first-time homebuyers or participating in the New Construction Affordable Homes Program. As of 2020, the annual household income limits are: 1 person household: $18,901 to $30,200 2 person household: $21,601 to $34,500 3 person household: $24,301 to $38,800 4 person household: $26,951 to $43,100 5 person household: $29,151 to $46,550 6 person household: $31,301 to $50,000 7 person household: $33,451 to $53,450 8 person household: $35,601 to $56,900 The house being purchased using this grant must be the applicant’s primary residence for a minimum of 5 years and cannot be a mobile home, condominium, townhouse, or duplex or multiplex unit. The house must also be located in Bayou la Batre, Chickasaw, Citronelle, Creola, Mount Vernon, Prichard, Saraland, Satsuma, Semmes, or the unincorporated areas of Mobile County. … ## Money Management International - Anchorage Branch URL: https://www.ratezip.com/money-management-international-anchorage-branch - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Money Management International - Anchorage Branch - State: Alaska Content excerpt: The Anchorage branch of Money Management International is HUD-approved and offers the following services in both English and Spanish: - Financial Management Counseling - Delinquency and Default Resolution Counseling - Post Purchase Workshops - Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Workshops - Predatory Lending Education Workshops - Rental Housing Counseling - Homelessness Counseling Interested individuals can receive counseling or education either via telephone, online, or in-person. Of their online courses, the three marketed towards homebuyers include Essentials for Buying a Home, Framework, and eHome America. The first, Essentials for Buying a Home, has a registration fee of $35 and provides information on purchasing and maintaining a house. The second, Framework, is $75 and is more complex and detailed than the Essentials course. Finally, eHome America is $99 and is for first-time homebuyers and/or those who need a homebuyer education certificate. Money Management International’s history begins in 1958. Originally six different consumer credit counseling agencies, the agencies joined together in 1997 to become Money Management by Mail. … ## Money Management International - Phoenix Branch URL: https://www.ratezip.com/money-management-international-phoenix-branch - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Money Management International - Phoenix Branch - State: Arizona Content excerpt: The Phoenix branch of Money Management International offers both English and Spanish services for budget counseling, delinquency and default counseling, post-purchase workshops, pre-purchase counseling and education, and rental housing counseling. Interested individuals can receive counseling or education either via telephone, online, or in-person. Of their online courses, the three marketed towards homebuyers include Essentials for Buying a Home, Framework, and eHome America. The first, Essentials for Buying a Home, has a registration fee of $35 and provides information on purchasing and maintaining a house. The second, Framework, is $75 and is more complex and detailed than the Essentials course. Finally, eHome America is $99 and is for first-time homebuyers and/or those who need a homebuyer education certificate. Money Management International’s history begins in 1958. Originally six different consumer credit counseling agencies, the agencies joined together in 1997 to become Money Management by Mail. The nonprofit then later changed its name to Money Management International in 2003. They have physical branches in 25 states, … ## Montana Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/montana-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Montana Down Payment Assistance - State: Montana Content excerpt: If you love the outdoors, chances are you'll love Montana. Rising real estate prices can make home ownership in Montana difficult, however. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Montana, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! NeighborWorks HOME Montana NeighborWorks HOME Montana is a down payment assistance program specifically designed for areas of Montana where other down payment assistance programs are not offered. This is because location is often a specific requirement of a down payment assistance program. Through HOME, applicants can receive between $2,500 and $25,000 (or, in certain instances, as much as $40,000). This is a loan with 0% interest. Monthly payments will need to be made to pay off this loan after a 15 year period with no payments, or earlier if the house is no longer their primary residence or is refinanced. This program is available to first-time homebuyers, single parents with dependent children in their household, … ## Monterey County Down Payment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/monterey-county-down-payment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Monterey County Down Payment Assistance Program - State: California Content excerpt: The First Time Homebuyers (FTHB) Down Payment Assistance Program is offered by Monterey County and funded by HOME funds provided by the state of California. This program is available for eligible properties in the unincorporated parts of Monterey County. The amount of assistance cannot exceed the lesser of the maximum HOME subsidy limit, 20% of the sale price of the property, or the amount needed determined by underwriting criteria. This is a loan to help cover the costs of the down payment. In order to be eligible for this program, individuals must be first-time homebuyers, have not owned a home in the previous three years, and put down a minimum of 3.5% of the sale price for the down payment from their own funds. In order for a house to be eligible, it must be the homebuyer’s primary residence and cannot have more than 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, or a 2-car garage. … ## Mortgage Revenue Bond 7 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/mortgage-revenue-bond-7 - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Mortgage Revenue Bond 7 - State: Mississippi Content excerpt: The Mortgage Revenue Bond 7 (MRB7) program is offered through the Mississippi Home Corporation (MHC). This is a mortgage loan with an additional $7,000 loan as down payment assistance. The $7,000 can be forgiven after 10 years, and these funds are offered as a 10-year loan with 0% interest. The MHC can offer this program due to revenue from selling Mortgage Revenue Bonds, which are federal tax-exempt. In order to qualify, an applicant must be either a first-time homebuyer (meaning they have not owned a house in the past three years), a veteran, or buying in a designated target area. Applicants will also have to meet credit and income limits. Finally, applicants must be United States legal residents. In order for the property being purchased to be eligible, it must be a single-family house, townhome, or condominium, or a manufactured house with a permanent foundation, located in Mississippi. The property will also have to fall within purchase price limits. Other programs in Mississippi: Smart Solution Second Housing Assistance for Teachers Or click here to search a different state. ## Movin’ Up Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/movin-up-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Movin’ Up Program - State: West Virginia Content excerpt: Offered by the West Virginia Housing Development Fund, the Movin’ Up Program offers a loan with 4.25% interest (4.751% APR) (as of August 2020) as down payment assistance. If the loan-to-value (LTV) is higher than 90%, $5,000 will be offered. If the LTV is lower than 90%, $8,000 will be offered. In order to be applicable, the property must be a single-family structure, townhouse, condominium, manufactured home, or Planned Unit Development unit in West Virginia. The applicant may have to partake in homebuyer education and/or counseling. As of 2020, the income limits that applicants have to fall within are as follows: -1-2 person household: $113,760 -3+ person household: $132,720 Other programs in West Virginia: HOMEownership Program Or click here to search a different state. ## My Choice Texas Home URL: https://www.ratezip.com/my-choice-texas-home - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: My Choice Texas Home - State: Texas Content excerpt: The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) offers the My Choice Texas Home Program to eligible applicants. This program does not have a first-time homebuyer requirement. It offers 30-year fixed rate mortgages as well as down payment and closing cost assistance for as much as 5% of the mortgage amount. Borrowers have the option of choosing either a government-backed or conventional mortgage. A list of lenders who participate in this program can be found on the TDHCA’s website. In order to qualify for this program, individuals will have to meet specified income and purchase price limits and have a credit score of at least 620. Other programs in Texas: My First Texas Home Hill Country Home Down Payment Assistance 5 Star Texas Advantage Program Home Star Program Homeownership Across Texas Homes for Texas Heroes Program Or click here to search a different state. ## My First Texas Home URL: https://www.ratezip.com/my-first-texas-home - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: My First Texas Home - State: Texas Content excerpt: The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) offers the My First Texas Home Program to eligible applicants. This program is meant for first-time homebuyers, homebuyers who have not owned a house for three years or more, and veterans. It offers 30-year fixed-rate mortgages as well as down payment and closing cost assistance for as much as 5% of the mortgage amount. A list of lenders who participate in this program can be found on the TDHCA’s website. My First Texas Home can be combined with the Texas Mortgage Credit Certificate Program to allow first-time homebuyers to save on their federal income taxes. In order to qualify for this program, individuals will have to meet specified income and purchase price limits and have a credit score of at least 620. Other programs in Texas: My Choice Texas Home Hill Country Home Down Payment Assistance 5 Star Texas Advantage Program Home Star Program Homeownership Across Texas Homes for Texas Heroes Program Or click here to search a different state. ## MyHome Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/myhome-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: MyHome Assistance Program - State: California Content excerpt: Through the MyHome Assistance Program, qualified individuals can receive a junior loan for as much as 3% of the sale price or appraised value of the home. This loan has deferred-payment and funds are used to help cover the down payment and/or closing costs. Interested applicants must have a California Housing Agency (CalHFA) mortgage, be first-time homebuyers, use the property as their primary residence, finish a homebuyer education class, meet their lender and mortgage insurers’ requirements, and may also need to fall within certain income limits. In order to qualify, the purchase price cannot be more than a certain amount (determined by location), and must also be a one-unit, single-family residence. In some cases, properties with guest houses, granny units, or in-law quarters can be eligible. Manufactured houses are allowed as long as they have a permanent foundation and the borrower has an FHA first mortgage. The property cannot have a lot size larger than 5 acres. Leaseholds, land-trusts and co-ops are not allowed. … ## NACA Alabama URL: https://www.ratezip.com/naca-alabama - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: NACA Alabama - State: Alabama Content excerpt: NACA, which stands for Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America, is a nationwide organization. Their Alabama location is found in Birmingham and offers services in both English and Spanish. Their services geared towards housing include Fair Housing Pre-Purchase Education Workshops, Financial Management, Budget Counseling, Post-Purchase Workshops (Non-delinquency), Pre-purchase counseling and educational workshops, and predatory lending educational workshops. Contact Info: Website: www.naca.com Phone: 205-942-8111 Address: 529 Beacon Pkwy W Ste 204 Birmingham, Alabama 35209-3127 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Alabama: Alabama Council on Human Relations, Inc Birmingham Urban League Gateway NACA Alabama Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc. Operation Hope Birmingham United Way of Central Alabama, Inc Community Action Partnership of North Alabama Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama Community Action Partnership of Huntsville, Madison, … ## NACA Arizona URL: https://www.ratezip.com/naca-arizona - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: NACA Arizona - State: Arizona Content excerpt: NACA, which stands for Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America, is a nationwide organization. Their Arizona branch is found in Phoenix and offers the following workshops, counseling and education in both English and Spanish: - Fair Housing Pre-Purchase - Financial Management/Budget - Home Improvement and Rehabilitation - Mortgage Delinquency and Default Resolution - Pre-purchase - Resolving/Preventing Mortgage Delinquency NACA was founded in 1988 with the goal of providing resources for affordable housing. While their headquarters are in Boston, MA, NACA has branches all over the country. • Contact Info: • Website: www.naca.com • Phone: 602-248-4408 • Address: • 1301 East Washington Street Suite 200 PHOENIX, Arizona 85034-1184 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Arizona Family Housing Resources Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona Western Arizona Council of Governments Chicanos Por La Causa Greater Phoenix Urban League Money Management International - Phoenix Branch NACA Arizona UnidosUS Housing & Financial Empowerment NID Housing Counseling Agency Arizona Take Charge America Trellis Comite de Bien Estar, … ## NC Home Advantage Mortgage Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/nc-home-advantage-mortgage-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: NC Home Advantage Mortgage Program - State: North Carolina Content excerpt: The Housing Finance Agency of North Carolina offers the Home Advantage Mortgage Program to qualified applicants. As much as 5% of the loan amount can be provided as down payment assistance. This assistance is a loan which can be forgiven. After 10 years living at the property, the loan is forgiven at a rate of 20% each year. In the event that the property is refinanced, transferred, or sold prior to the 15-year term, the loan has to be repaid. Only legal US residents are allowed to apply. Further, applicants cannot have an annual household income higher than $87,500 or a credit score lower than 640. These amounts are accurate as of this writing but may change. Applicants also have to be working with a participating lender, and the purchase price of the property must be within a certain limit. Applicants must live in their new house within 60 days of the property closing. Only new and previously owned single-family homes, townhouses, condominiums, and duplexes are allowed. New manufactured houses are allowed as well, but with a 660 minimum credit score requirement. Click here to search a different state. ## NDHFA Downpayment and Closing Cost Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/ndhfa-downpayment-and-closing-cost-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: NDHFA Downpayment and Closing Cost Assistance Program - State: North Dakota Content excerpt: The North Dakota Housing Finance Agency allows qualified applicants to access down payment and closing cost assistance. A minimum of $3,000 (but as much as 3% of the house’s purchase price) is offered as a 0% loan with deferred payments. In order to apply, you must be a first-time homebuyer. You must also have your first mortgage through NDHFA and be able to put down a minimum of $500 towards the purchase from your own funds. Applicants should also be creditworthy and fall within defined income limits. Homebuyer education must be completed prior to the loan being closed. Only primary residences are allowed, and the property must be within a defined purchase price limit. The property cannot be in a 100-year floodplain. Other programs in North Dakota: Start Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Nebraska Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/nebraska-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Nebraska Down Payment Assistance - State: Nebraska Content excerpt: Nebraska is a beautiful state, and one of the best states for getting an education! Rising real estate prices can make home ownership in Nebraska difficult, however. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The Nebraska Investment Finance Authority is one organization that offers such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Nebraska, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! NIFA Loan Programs Offered through the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA), the Homebuyer Assistance Program can be used to help with the down payment and closing costs of a home purchase. The Homebuyer Assistance Program offers both a first mortgage (the mortgage loan) and a second mortgage (the down payment assistance). Because is comes with down payment and closing cost assistance, the Homebuyer Assistance Program first mortgage has an interest rate that is higher than other NIFA loans. The second mortgage can be for an amount up to 5% of the sales price of the house, but no more than $10,000. … ## Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc. URL: https://www.ratezip.com/neighborhood-housing-services-of-birmingham-inc - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc. - State: Alabama Content excerpt: Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc. (NHSB) is an HUD-approved agency that offers the following: - Financial Management and Workshops - Budget Counseling and Workshops - Credit Workshops - Mortgage Delinquency Counseling - Default Resolution Counseling - Pre-purchase Counseling - Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Workshops - Rental Housing Counseling and Workshops - Mortgage Delinquency Resolution and Prevention Workshops In addition to the above services, NHSB also offers down payment assistance programs to qualified homebuyers. Contact Info: Website: www.nhsbham.org Phone: 205-328-4292 Address: 601 19th St N Birmingham, Alabama 35203-2229 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Alabama: Alabama Council on Human Relations, Inc Birmingham Urban League Gateway NACA Alabama Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc. Operation Hope Birmingham United Way of Central Alabama, Inc Community Action Partnership of North Alabama Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama Community Action Partnership of Huntsville, Madison, … ## NeighborWorks Alaska URL: https://www.ratezip.com/neighborworks-alaska - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: NeighborWorks Alaska - State: Alaska Content excerpt: NeighborWorks Alaska, a subset of NeighborWorks America, is an HUD-approved counseling agency that offers services in both English and Spanish. They have been helping Alaskans with housing resources for more than 35 years. Those interested will be able to find help with budgeting, financial management, credit information, post-home purchase information, and pre-home purchase information. NeighborWorks Alaska offers two classes specific to interested homebuyers. The first is a Homebuyer Education Course, which offers information about homeownership, how to find a home that’s right for you, and homeowner maintenance. This class has a non-refundable fee of $99. The second class is on Money Management, and helps individuals learn about saving and spending, credit, and personal finances. This class has a non-refundable fee of $45. Contact Info: Website: www.nwalaska.org Phone: 907-677-8490 Address: 2515 A St Anchorage, Alaska 99503-2709 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Alaska NeighborWorks Alaska Money Management International - Anchorage Branch Alaska Housing Finance Corporation To search for programs in a different state, click here . ## NeighborWorks HOME Montana URL: https://www.ratezip.com/neighborworks-home-montana - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: NeighborWorks HOME Montana - State: Montana Content excerpt: NeighborWorks HOME Montana is a down payment assistance program specifically designed for areas of Montana where other down payment assistance programs are not offered. This is because location is often a specific requirement of a down payment assistance program. Through HOME, applicants can receive between $2,500 and $25,000 (or, in certain instances, as much as $40,000). This is a loan with 0% interest. Monthly payments will need to be made to pay off this loan after a 15 year period with no payments, or earlier if the house is no longer their primary residence or is refinanced. This program is available to first-time homebuyers, single parents with dependent children in their household, or households with a disabled individual. In order to qualify, applicants have to complete a homebuying education course, pay a minimum of $1,000 towards the home purchase from their own assets, and use the house as their primary residence. … ## Nevada Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/nevada-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Nevada Down Payment Assistance - State: Nevada Content excerpt: Nevada is well known for beautiful desert landscapes, as well as being the entertainment and gambling capitol of the world! Rising real estate prices can make home ownership in Nevada difficult, however. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The Nevada Rural Housing Authority and the Nevada Housing Division are two organizations that offer such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Nevada, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! Home at Last Access Down Payment Assistance Grant Through the Nevada Rural Housing Authority, eligible applicants can receive as much as $24,000 in assistance funds. This can be used to help cover the down payment of a home purchase. This is a second mortgage with a three-year term that is forgivable providing that the borrower uses the property as their primary residence for at least three years. This second mortgage has no interest and no monthly payments. All applicants will have to finish a homebuying education class, … ## New Castle County Down Payment Settlement Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/new-castle-county-down-payment-settlement-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: New Castle County Down Payment Settlement Program - State: Delaware Content excerpt: First-time homebuyers in New Castle County can receive between $1,000 and $5,000 in assistance funds from the New Castle County Department of Community Service’s Down Payment Settlement Program. The assistance can be put towards down payment or closing costs, and the specific amount that an applicant receives is decided by a housing counselor. The assistance is offered in the form of an 8-year loan. The first three years of the loan, monthly payments are not required and interest accrues at a rate of 3%. After the three years are up, payments must be made each month. If the borrower pays the loan off within the first three years, any interest on the loan is forgiven. The full loan amount becomes due if the house is sold or transferred in another way. In order to qualify, an individual cannot have owned a house for the previous three years. Borrowers must also put forth at least $500 of their own funds towards the down payment. Eligible properties are existing, residential structures or new construction houses in New Castle County but outside of Wilmington City limits. The property cannot have a purchase price higher than $379,500 (as of 2020), … ## New Castle County ReVaMP Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/new-castle-county-revamp-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: New Castle County ReVaMP Program - State: Delaware Content excerpt: The New Castle Department of Community Services created the ReVaMP (Remediating, Vacancies Making Progress) program in order to help encourage homeownership and the sale of vacant properties. Down payment and closing cost assistance for up to $5,000 is offered for borrowers purchasing vacant houses in select areas of New Castle County. This is a 5-year loan with 0% interest that can be forgiven if the applicant uses the house as their primary residence for at least five years. In order to qualify, applicants must have an annual household income that meets the following limits for 2020: 1 person household: $67,560 2 person household: $77,160 3 person household: $86,760 4 person household: $96,360 5 person household: $104,160 6 person household: $111,840 7 person household: $119,520 8 person household: $127,200 In addition, applicants must finish a Homeownership Education course. The property being purchased cannot have a purchase price higher than $379,500. As only select areas of New Castle County qualify for this program, interested individuals should first verify that the house they are looking to purchase is in one of these areas. … ## New Hampshire Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/new-hampshire-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: New Hampshire Down Payment Assistance - State: New Hampshire Content excerpt: New Hampshire is a beautiful state, but rising home prices can make home ownership in New Hampshire difficult. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in New Hampshire, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! Home Flex Plus Individuals who qualify for the Home Flex Plus program can receive as much as 3% of their loan amount as a grant to help pay the down payment, closing costs, and/or prepaid items of a home purchase. In order to be eligible, applicants must finish a homebuying education class, have a credit score of at least 620, and as of 2022, cannot have an annual household income amount higher than $137,400. The property being purchased must be the applicant’s primary residence and cannot have more than four units. Click here to search a different state! ## New Jersey Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/new-jersey-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: New Jersey Down Payment Assistance - State: New Jersey Content excerpt: New Jersey is known for amazing beaches, exciting sports, and unique people. However, it is also known for high housing prices, and is one of the states with the highest average mortgage debt . Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency is one organization that offers such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in New Jersey, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! NJHMFA Down Payment Assistance Program NJHMFA, which stands for the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, offers this down payment program as a way to help eligible applicants with the down payment and closing costs associated with a real estate transaction. As much as $10,000 is offered as a 0% second mortgage. This loan has no monthly payments, and can be forgiven completely after the 5-year term as long as the borrower continues to use the property as their primary residence. … ## New Mexico Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/new-mexico-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: New Mexico Down Payment Assistance - State: New Mexico Content excerpt: New Mexico is known for good food and rich cultural history. However, rising real estate prices can make home ownership in New Mexico difficult. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in New Mexico, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! NEXTHome The NEXTHome program offers a combined first and second mortgage loan to qualified individuals. The second mortgage is for down payment assistance of as much as 3% of the first mortgage. This second mortgage has no monthly payment and can be forgiven if certain requirements are completed. This program is meant to help low-and-moderate income households purchase single-family homes. Houses that have been purchased using NEXTHome must be occupied by the applicants as their primary residences within 60 days after closing. In order to qualify, applicants cannot have a credit score lower than 620, and must be able to put down at least $500 towards the purchase from their own assets. … ## New York Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/new-york-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: New York Down Payment Assistance - State: New York Content excerpt: Whether you prefer the bustling city life or the quiet countryside, New York State has something for everyone! However, New York is also one of the states with the highest average mortgage debt and median housing prices. This can make home ownership in New York difficult. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, the Albany County Rural Housing Alliance Acquisition, and the Troy Rehabilitation and Improvement Program are three examples of organizations that offer such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in New York, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Click on any program below to learn more and see if it can help with your home purchase! First Home Club Matched Savings Program ACRHA Acquisition/Rehabilitation Grant Homebuyer Incentive Program Home Acquisition Program First Time Home Buyer’s Program Housing Opportunities Foundation Individual Grant Program Rensselaer County Homebuyer Program First Home Club Matched Savings Program Homebuyers in New York can get financial assistance through this program. … ## Newtown Community Development Corporation URL: https://www.ratezip.com/newtown-community-development-corporation - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Newtown Community Development Corporation - State: Arizona Content excerpt: The Newtown Community Development Corporation, or Newtown CDC, was founded in 1994 as the Tempe’s Maple-Ash Neighborhood Association Restoration Coalition. However, eight years later, they had grown to serve a larger area, and therefore renamed themselves Northwest Tempe Neighborhoods CDC, Inc, or NewTowN. In 2004, they rebranded again to simply be known as Newtown CDC. Newtown has dedicated themselves to the financial wellbeing of the communities that they serve. One of the services that they offer is a Homebuyer Education Course, which can fulfill certain lender requirements. The cost for this course is $99 for two participants. Newton CDC also offers both English and Spanish services for Financial, Budgeting, and Credit Workshops, and Pre-purchase Counseling. • Contact Info: • Website: www.newtowncdc.org • Phone: 480-517-1589 • Address: 2106 E Apache Blvd, #112 Tempe, … ## Next Step Cash Assistance Loan URL: https://www.ratezip.com/next-step-cash-assistance-loan - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Next Step Cash Assistance Loan - State: Missouri Content excerpt: The Next Step Cash Assistance loan offers assistance funds to help with the down payment and closing costs. Qualified individuals can access 4% of their first mortgage amount as assistance funds in the form of a second mortgage. This second mortgage is forgiven entirely as long as the applicants use the property as their primary residence for no less than ten years. The lender is allowed to charge the borrower standard closing costs, but junk fees are not allowed. As of 2022, the sales price limits are $381,308 for single family houses and $488,215 for duplexes. Income limits, which vary depending on location and household size, also apply. Other programs in Missouri: First Place Loan Program with Cash Assistance CAASTLC Down Payment Assistance Individual Development Account Columbia Homeownership Assistance Program Springfield Down Payment Assistance Or click here to search a different state. ## NEXTHome URL: https://www.ratezip.com/nexthome-2 - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: NEXTHome - State: New Mexico Content excerpt: The NEXTHome program offers a combined first and second mortgage loan to qualified individuals. The second mortgage is for down payment assistance of as much as 3% of the first mortgage. This second mortgage has no monthly payment and can be forgiven if certain requirements are completed. This program is meant to help low-and-moderate income households purchase single-family homes. Houses that have been purchased using NEXTHome must be occupied by the applicants as their primary residences within 60 days after closing. In order to qualify, applicants cannot have a credit score lower than 620, and must be able to put down at least $500 towards the purchase from their own assets. This $500 cannot come from a gift, grant, or a different type of down payment assistance. Applicants must be working with a participating lender to utilize this program. As of 2020, the annual household income limit for this program is $91,000, and the purchase price limit is $340,000. Other programs in New Mexico: FIRSTDown HOMENow Or click here to search a different state. ## NextHome URL: https://www.ratezip.com/nexthome - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: NextHome - State: Indiana Content excerpt: The NextHome program, offered by the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority, is available to qualified applicants. The amount of assistance an applicant can receive depends on the type of mortgage they have and the sales price of the house they are buying. Those with an FHA mortgage can access 4% of the sales price as assistance funds, while those with a conventional mortgage can access 3%. This is a loan with 0% interest and deferred payments. After two years, the loan is forgiven. There is no purchase price limit for properties utilizing the NextHome program. In order to be eligible, applicants must have a minimum credit score of 660, a mortgage from a participating lender, and fall within specific income limits. Applicants will also have to attend and complete Framework, a homebuyer education class. Other programs in Indiana: Homebuyers Assistance Program First Time Home Buyer Down Payment Assistance Or click here to search a different state. ## NID Housing Counseling Agency Alabama URL: https://www.ratezip.com/nid-housing-counseling-agency-alabama - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: NID Housing Counseling Agency Alabama - State: Alabama Content excerpt: “NID” stands for the National Association of Real Estate Brokers - Investment Division, which is NID Housing Counseling Agency’s parent organization. Their branch in Madison, Alabama offers education and counseling on home improvement, rehabilitation, post-purchase homebuying, pre-purchase homebuying, and rental housing. NID Housing was founded more than thirty years ago and has branches nationwide. Some of their classes are offered online, allowing you to learn about homebuying from the comfort of your own home. Even if the class you want isn’t offered online, you can connect with a housing counselor virtually, remotely, or in person. Contact Info: Website: nidhousing.com Phone: 256-850-3132 Address: 1689 Slaughter Rd Suite A3 MADISON, Alabama 35758-8692 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Alabama: Alabama Council on Human Relations, Inc Birmingham Urban League Gateway NACA Alabama Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc. Operation Hope Birmingham United Way of Central Alabama, Inc Community Action Partnership of North Alabama Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama Community Action Partnership of Huntsville, Madison, … ## NID Housing Counseling Agency Arizona URL: https://www.ratezip.com/nid-housing-counseling-agency-arizona - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: NID Housing Counseling Agency Arizona - State: Arizona Content excerpt: “NID” stands for the National Association of Real Estate Brokers - Investment Division, which is NID Housing Counseling Agency’s parent organization. Their branch in Phoenix, Arizona offers pre-purchase counseling, education and workshops, budget help, mortgage delinquency and default counseling, post-purchase workshops, rental house counseling, and homelessness counseling. NID Housing was founded more than thirty years ago and has branches nationwide. Some of their classes are offered online, allowing you to learn about homebuying from the comfort of your own home. Even if the class you want isn’t offered online, you can connect with a housing counselor virtually, remotely, or in person. There is a fee for some of their services. Contact Info: • Website: www.nidhousing.com • Phone: 602-456-2558 • Address: • 2111 E Highland Suite 240 PHOENIX, … ## NIFA Loan Programs URL: https://www.ratezip.com/nifa-loan-programs - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: NIFA Loan Programs - State: Nebraska Content excerpt: Offered through the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA), the Homebuyer Assistance Program can be used to help with the down payment and closing costs of a home purchase. The Homebuyer Assistance Program offers both a first mortgage (the mortgage loan) and a second mortgage (the down payment assistance). Because is comes with down payment and closing cost assistance, the Homebuyer Assistance Program first mortgage has an interest rate that is higher than other NIFA loans. The second mortgage can be for an amount up to 5% of the sales price of the house, but no more than $10,000. This loan has a 10-year term and 1% interest rate. Applicants have to be able to put at least $1,000 of their own funds towards the purchase. Click here to search a different state. ## NJHMFA Down Payment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/njhmfa-down-payment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: NJHMFA Down Payment Assistance Program - State: New Jersey Content excerpt: NJHMFA, which stands for the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, offers this down payment program as a way to help eligible applicants with the down payment and closing costs associated with a real estate transaction. As much as $10,000 is offered as a 0% second mortgage. This loan has no monthly payments, and can be forgiven completely after the 5-year term as long as the borrower continues to use the property as their primary residence. This program is only available to first time homebuyers who have not owned a house in the prior three-year period. All applicants have to utilize a participating lender in order to be eligible. The minimum allowed credit score is 620. Further, applicants cannot have the liquid assets available to them to close on a mortgage at 80% loan-to-value or less. Applicants must also fall within certain income limits. The number of people in the household, location, and funding source all affect these limits. However, the income limit will never be more than 140% of the AMI, or area-median-income. Only primary residences in New Jersey are allowed for this program. The residence can be a single-family house, condominium, townhouse, manufactured, … ## Normal Homebuyer’s Down Payment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/normal-homebuyers-down-payment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Normal Homebuyer’s Down Payment Assistance Program - State: Illinois Content excerpt: The program is available to individuals buying properties in the town of Normal. Funds from Normal’s DPA program come from the Community Development Block Grant program. As much as $3,000 is offered to help borrowers cover the costs of closing and the down payment. This is a forgivable second mortgage that has no interest or monthly payments. 20% is forgiven each year, with the entire loan amount forgiven after 5 years. Only primary residences are allowed to be purchased using this program, and mobile homes are not eligible. As of 2022, the total annual household income limits are below: 1 person household: $52,200 2 person household: $59,650 3 person household: $67,100 4 person household: $74,550 5 person household: $80,550 6 person household: $86,500 7 person household: $92,450 8 person household: $98,450 Other programs in Illinois: Down Payment Plus Programs HOMEbuyer Program 1stHomeIllinois Chicago Home Buyer Assistance Program City of Alton’s Homeownership Program Joliet Down Payment Assistance Program Kane County First-Time Homebuyer Program Romeoville Assist Program Or click here to search a different state. ## North Carolina Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/north-carolina-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: North Carolina Down Payment Assistance - State: North Carolina Content excerpt: North Carolina has a beautiful climate, wonderful people, and a fascinating history, making it an ideal location for many families. However, rising real estate prices can make home ownership in North Carolina difficult. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The Housing Finance Agency of North Carolina is one organization that offers such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in North Carolina, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! NC Home Advantage Mortgage Program The Housing Finance Agency of North Carolina offers the Home Advantage Mortgage Program to qualified applicants. As much as 5% of the loan amount can be provided as down payment assistance. This assistance is a loan which can be forgiven. After 10 years living at the property, the loan is forgiven at a rate of 20% each year. In the event that the property is refinanced, transferred, or sold prior to the 15-year term, the loan has to be repaid. Only legal US residents are allowed to apply. Further, … ## North Dakota Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/north-dakota - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: North Dakota Down Payment Assistance - State: North Dakota Content excerpt: North Dakota is well known for agriculture and geography! However, rising real estate prices can make home ownership in North Dakota difficult. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The North Dakota Housing Finance Agency is one organization that offers such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in North Dakota, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! NDHFA Downpayment and Closing Cost Assistance Program The North Dakota Housing Finance Agency allows qualified applicants to access down payment and closing cost assistance. A minimum of $3,000 (but as much as 3% of the house’s purchase price) is offered as a 0% loan with deferred payments. In order to apply, you must be a first-time homebuyer. You must also have your first mortgage through NDHFA and be able to put down a minimum of $500 towards the purchase from your own funds. Applicants should also be creditworthy and fall within defined income limits. Homebuyer education must be completed prior to the loan being closed. … ## Ohio Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/ohio-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Ohio Down Payment Assistance - State: Ohio Content excerpt: Ohio is one of the states with the lowest average mortgage debt and lowest median house prices in the country! This means that those looking for a good deal on real estate may be able to find options here. Potential home owners can also find savings thanks to programs that offer down payment or closing cost assistance. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Ohio, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! Cuyahoga County Down Payment Assistance Program This program, offered by the Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Cleveland, can assist qualified individuals with the expenses associated with a home purchase. Seventeen percent of the house’s purchase price is offered as down payment assistance, and an additional 5% is offered as closing cost assistance. This is a loan with deferred payments, and 50% of the loan amount can be forgiven after a residency of 10 years. Any loan amount due does not need to be paid back until the house is sold or transferred. Only first-time homebuyers who have not owned a home in the previous three years can apply. … ## Oklahoma Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/oklahoma-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Oklahoma Down Payment Assistance - State: Oklahoma Content excerpt: Oklahoma is one of the states with the lowest average mortgage debt and lowest median house prices in the country! This means that those looking for a good deal on real estate may be able to find options here. Potential home owners can also find savings thanks to programs that offer down payment or closing cost assistance. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Oklahoma, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! REI Down Payment Assistance Program Eligible applicants can receive down payment and closing cost assistance through the REI Down Payment Assistance Program. Assistance is offered as a grant, and can be as low as 3.5% of the loan amount or as high as 5% of the loan amount. In addition to the down payment and closing costs, this amount can also be used to help with any pre-paid items or other eligible fees. Only applicants who fall within specified annual household income limits will qualify. The minimum allowed credit score is 640, and the applicant’s debt-to-income (or DTI) ratio must be 45%. This grant can only be put towards primary residences. … ## Operation Hope Birmingham URL: https://www.ratezip.com/operation-hope-birmingham - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Operation Hope Birmingham - State: Alabama Content excerpt: Operation Hope, an organization with locations over multiple states, offers Financial Management, Budget Counseling, Pre-purchase Counseling, and Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Workshops. All of it’s services are free. Contact Info: Website: www.operationhope.org Phone: 205-478-0557 Address: 941 20th Street South Birmingham, Alabama 35205-2609 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Alabama: Alabama Council on Human Relations, Inc Birmingham Urban League Gateway NACA Alabama Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc. Operation Hope Birmingham United Way of Central Alabama, Inc Community Action Partnership of North Alabama Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama Community Action Partnership of Huntsville, Madison, & Limestone Counties Family Services Center Walker County Community Action Agency NID Housing Counseling Agency Alabama Consumer Credit Counseling Service Legal Services Alabama Inc Housing Authority of The City of Prichard Community Service Programs of West Alabama, Inc To search for programs in a different state, click here . ## Operation Welcome Home URL: https://www.ratezip.com/operation-welcome-home - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Operation Welcome Home - State: Massachusetts Content excerpt: Offered through MassHousing, Operation Welcome Home provides up to $2,500 in closing cost assistance for active-duty and retired members of the military, as well as members of the National Guard, Reserves, and Gold Star families. For certain cities (Boston, Chelsea, Cambridge, Everett, Fall River, Lawrence, Lynn, North Adams and Somerville), applicants are not required to be first-time homebuyers in order to be eligible. For the rest of the state, applicants must be first-time homebuyers. Applicants must also fall under certain loan and income limits. Eligible properties include houses with up to 4 units in the state of Massachusetts. Other programs in Massachusetts: MassHousing Down Payment Assistance Program Workforce Advantage Or click here to search a different state. ## Opportunity Downpayment Assistance Loan Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/opportunity-downpayment-assistance-loan-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Opportunity Downpayment Assistance Loan Program - State: Washington Content excerpt: Another downpayment assistance program offered by the Housing Finance Commission of Washington State, Opportunity DPA allows for a borrower to receive as much as $10,000. The amount that the applicant qualifies for is based partly on need, with the exception of Veterans, who don’t require a need-assessment to qualify. This assistance is classified as a second mortgage with a 1% interest rate. It’s meant to be used with an Opportunity first mortgage loan. In order to qualify, applicants have to be either first-time homebuyers or buying a house in a designated target area. Applicants also have to attend a seminar about homebuying. Applicants must fall within specified income limits that vary by location and household size. Other programs in Washington: Tacoma Down Payment Assistance Program Seattle Downpayment Assistance Program Pierce County Downpayment Assistance Program HomeChoice Down Payment Assistance Program Bellingham Downpayment Assistance ARCH East King County Downpayment Assistance Loan Home Advantage Down Payment Assistance Loan Program Veterans Downpayment Assistance Loan Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Orange County Down Payment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/orange-county-down-payment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Orange County Down Payment Assistance Program - State: Florida Content excerpt: Available for eligible properties in Orange County, this Down Payment Assistance Program offers up to $30,000 for qualified first-time home buyers through a ten-year deferred interest loan. These funds can be used for the down payment and/or qualified closing costs, but the loan must be paid back prior to the ten-year term end if the property is sold, rented out, refinanced without prior approval, or is no longer the applicant’s primary residence. Applicants cannot have owned a house in the previous three years, must be legal US residents, and must have been residents of Orange, Osceola, Seminole or Lake County for the past year. In addition, applicants must have a minimum credit score of 640 and at least $1,000 (or up to 1.75% of the purchase price, whichever is greater) to put towards the down payment or closing costs. Applicants must also fall within certain annual household limits. In order for a property to be eligible for this program, it must be within Orange County (but outside of Orlando), be owner-occupied, and not have a purchase price of more than $200,000. Single family homes, condominiums, townhouses, and modular homes are all eligible, but not mobile homes. … ## Oregon Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/oregon-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Oregon Down Payment Assistance - State: Oregon Content excerpt: Those who want to live in Oregon may enjoy stories of the wild west or its wonderful nature. However, rising real estate prices can make home ownership in Oregon difficult. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services and the Rogue Valley Association of Realtors are two organizations that offer such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Oregon, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! Extra Step and Project Reinvest Loans Both of these loans are offered by Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services, but they are listed together here because although the programs vary slightly, they have the same requirements Individuals can apply for just one or both of these loans. With the Extra Step loan, as much as $10,000 is offered to help qualified individuals with the expense of the down payment. Applicants for this loan cannot have a total annual household income higher than 80% of the area median income. For the Project Reinvest loan, … ## Own in Odgen Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/own-in-odgen-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Own in Odgen Program - State: Utah Content excerpt: Prospective buyers in Odgen, Utah can obtain as much as $5,000 in assistance funds towards the down payment, closing costs, or principal reduction of a loan. This is a 0% interest loan with deferred payments that is paid back when the borrower either sells the property or no longer occupies it as their primary residence. They must be able to put down at least $500 from their own assets. If the applicant is a police officer, fire fighter, certified classroom teacher or administrator, they can receive up to $10,000 as their loan amount. Other programs in Utah: UHC Down Payment Assistance CDCU Down Payment Assistance West Valley City Down Payment Assistance Grant BRAG First Time Homebuyer Assistance Welcome Home: Own in Logan Weber Housing Authority Homeownership Assistance Program Davis First Time Home Buyer Clearfield First Time Home Buyer City of West Jordan Down Payment Assistance Program Loan to Own Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Provo Home Purchase Plus Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Palm Bay HOME Down Payment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/palm-bay-home-down-payment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Palm Bay HOME Down Payment Assistance Program - State: Florida Content excerpt: Through the Palm Bay HOME Down Payment Assistance Programs, Palm Bay City offers closing cost and down payment assistance (and, in certain cases, rehabilitation assistance) to qualified first-time homebuyers. Individuals in the “low-income” or “very-low-income” brackets will receive preference in this program. The “very-low-income” bracket consists of families who earn under 50% of the area median income. As much as $17,881.50 can be received to help cover the costs of the down payment, closing costs, and in certain cases, rehabilitation. This is a loan that is deferred and can be forgiven after its term has been completed. It will need to be paid back if the house is no longer owner-occupied or the title has been transferred. In order to be eligible, applicants must be creditworthy, fall within certain income limits, and finish a homebuyer education class. Homebuyers will also be required to put down a contribution of at least $750 (for those in the very-low-income bracket) or $1,250 (for those in the low-income bracket). … ## Pathway to Purchase Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/pathway-to-purchase-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Pathway to Purchase Down Payment Assistance - State: Arizona Content excerpt: The Pathway to Purchase (P2P) Down Payment Assistance program was developed by the Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) and the Arizona Home Foreclosure Prevention Funding Corporation (AHFPFC). It’s specifically meant for people who have had foreclosures and are looking to purchase homes in certain cities, which are Bull Head City, Casa Grande, Glendale, Green Valley, Kingman, Phoenix, Rio Rico, Sahuarita, Sierra Vista, Tucson, Vail, and Yuma. Through this program, eligible borrowers are offered a fixed-rate, 30 year mortgage, as well as down payment assistance offered in the form of a second mortgage. This second mortgage, for up to $20,000, has a term of 5 years and a 0% interest rate. In order to be eligible for P2P Down Payment Assistance, interested applicants must be using the house as their primary residence, must not have an annual income of more than $92,984, and must complete an approved homebuyer education course prior to closing. P2P Down Payment Assistance is only available for Fannie Mae HFA Preferred Mortgages, and the purchase price of the house cannot exceed $371,936. Income and purchase price limits are valid as of 2020. … ## PEN URL: https://www.ratezip.com/pen - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: PEN - State: Georgia Content excerpt: PEN is offered by the Department of Community Affairs and provides down payment assistance, mortgage loans, and homebuying education. Eligible applicants can receive as much as $7,500 in down payment assistance. Other applicants may be able to receive as much as $5,000. This is a loan that must be paid back when the property is sold, refinanced, transferred, or is no longer the applicant’s primary residence. Borrowers must be first-time homebuyers who are buying a house in one of the target areas. They also have to be able to provide at least $1,000 towards the purchase from their own funds. In order to qualify for the PEN program, the applicant must be a public protector, educator, health care worker, active military service member, or a member of the National Guard. This includes police, sheriff’s, highway patrol, probation, EMS, correctional or fire department employees, including volunteer firefighters; school employees; and state-licensed health facility employees, including hospitals, health departments, doctors’ offices, dentists’ offices, or nursing homes. Household income and purchase price limits depend on location. As of 2020, these limits are as follows: For Barrow, … ## Pennsylvania Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/pennsylvania-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Pennsylvania Down Payment Assistance - State: Pennsylvania Content excerpt: Pennsylvania, also known as the Keystone state, is home beautiful countrysides and wonderful history. However, rising real estate prices can make home ownership in Pennsylvania difficult. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency is one organization that offers such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Pennsylvania, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! Delaware County Homeownership First Program Eligible applicants in Delaware County can receive up to $5,000 in funds to put towards the down payment and closing costs of a home purchase. The funds must be used for the down payment first, to pay up to 2% of the down payment; any remaining funds can then be put towards closing costs. In order to be eligible for the program applicants must be first-time homebuyers and have not owned a home in the previous three years. They must also contribute at least $1,000 of their own funds towards the home purchase. … ## Pierce County Downpayment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/pierce-county-downpayment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Pierce County Downpayment Assistance Program - State: Washington Content excerpt: This is another downpayment program offered by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission. As much as $24,900 is offered as a second mortgage with a simple interest of 4%. Repayment of this loan is deferred for up to 30 years; the loan amount only becomes due at the time that the property is sold, refinanced, transferred, is no longer owner-occupied, or has the first mortgage paid off. A $1,000 minimum payment is required from the applicant to be put towards the home purchase, but this amount can be gifted if necessary. Only first-time homebuyers are allowed to participate in this program. Furthermore, applicants must participate in a homebuying education seminar, which is also offered by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, and obtain a certificate of completion. They are five hours or longer and offer information necessary to purchase, own and maintain a home. Advanced reservations are required for seminars. Pre-purchase counseling on an individual basis will also be required. … ## Pima County Community Land Trust URL: https://www.ratezip.com/pima-county-community-land-trust - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Pima County Community Land Trust - State: Arizona Content excerpt: Pima County Land Trust, or PCCLT, offers the following services in both Spanish and English: Financial Workshops Home Improvement Counseling Mortgage Default Resolution Counseling Post Purchase Workshops Pre-purchase Counseling and Homebuyer Education Workshops Predatory Lending Education Workshops Rental Housing Counseling PCCLT recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary. • Contact Info: • Website: https://pcclt.org • Phone: 520-603-0587 • Address: • 17 N Linda Ave • Tucson, Arizona 85745-2960 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Arizona Family Housing Resources Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona Western Arizona Council of Governments Chicanos Por La Causa Greater Phoenix Urban League Money Management International - Phoenix Branch NACA Arizona UnidosUS Housing & Financial Empowerment NID Housing Counseling Agency Arizona Take Charge America Trellis Comite de Bien Estar, … ## Pima Tucson Homebuyer’s Solution Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/pima-tucson-homebuyers-solution-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Pima Tucson Homebuyer’s Solution Program - State: Arizona Content excerpt: Through the Pima Tucson Homebuyer’s Solution Program, qualified borrowers can receive a fixed-rate 30-year mortgage. In addition to the mortgage, applicants can also receive assistance for closing costs, down payment, or prepaid items for up to 3, 4, or 5% of the loan amount. This assistance does not need to be repaid and has no recapture tax. In order to be eligible, applicants have to have qualifying credit, meet all guidelines from FHA, VA, USDA, and Freddie Mac, and complete a homebuyer education course. Applicants must also not have an annual household income of more than $83,020 for FHA, VA, and USDA loans, or an annual household income of more than $88,950 for conventional loans (as of 2020). Both first-time and repeat homebuyers are eligible for the Pima Tucson Homebuyer’s Solution Program. The property being purchased must be in Pima County and Tucson, and be the homebuyer’s primary residence. Properties can have up to four units, and this also includes condominiums and townhouses. Other programs in Arizona: HOME Down Payment Assistance Program HOME Plus Program Pathway to Purchase Down Payment Assistance Or click here to search a different state. ## Pre-1976 Mobile Home Replacement Initiative URL: https://www.ratezip.com/pre-1976-mobile-home-replacement-initiative - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Pre-1976 Mobile Home Replacement Initiative - State: Maine Content excerpt: For those living in a mobile home built before 1976, the Pre-1976 Mobile Home Replacement Initiative offers an opportunity to help replace the mobile home with an ENERGY STAR ® certified manufactured home. Eligible applicants can receive a first mortgage loan as well as a $30,000 grant from MaineHousing. This grant does not need to be repaid as long as the applicants live in their new manufactured home for a minimum of 10 years. These funds can be used to dismantle and remove the pre-1976 mobile home as well as to purchase and install the new ENERGY STAR ® manufactured home. The new manufactured home must be installed on the same site as the old pre-1976 mobile home. The property can be either owned land, privately leased land, or a park. Only ENERGY STAR ® manufactured homes can be purchased using this initiative, and it must have permanent connections to water, sewer, and other utilities when installed. Furthermore, is must have a permanent foundation. The manufactured home must be purchased through a licensed dealer in Maine. Annual household income limits apply, which vary depending on location and household size. … ## Provo Home Purchase Plus Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/provo-home-purchase-plus-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Provo Home Purchase Plus Program - State: Utah Content excerpt: As part of a commitment made in 2000 to revitalize and preserve the neighborhoods of Provo, Provo City, funded in part by a Congressional Economic Development Initiative, offers Home Purchase Plus. Home Purchase Plus is meant to help low-income households by offering a deferred payment loan with zero interest. The amount that can be received depends in part on need and in part on an applicant’s credit score. Those with a middle credit score between 650 and 699 could receive as much as $25,000, while those with a middle credit score of 700 or more could receive as much as $40,000. This loan only needs to be paid back when the borrowers no longer use the property as their primary residence. If the borrowers stop using the property as their primary residence before two years have passed after closing, they will receive a $5,000 fine. Only first-time homebuyers (those who have not owned a house in at least 3 years) can qualify for this program. If one spouse has not owned a home but the other spouse has, both are considered first-time homebuyers if they are on the loan together. In order to qualify, … ## Purchase Plus Improvement Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/purchase-plus-improvement-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Purchase Plus Improvement Program - State: Maine Content excerpt: This program, offered by MaineHousing, helps to finance eligible repairs associated with a home purchase. This option must be used as part of the MaineHousing First Home Program. Income, purchase price, and LTV limits will apply. As much as $375 will be charged for utilizing this option. Applicants can receive between $500 and $1,000 in funds to put towards repairs and rehabilitation if the work will be completed by the applicant. If the work will be completed by a contractor, the amount of funds will be between $500 and $35,000. The amount given at closing depends on who will be completing the work. If the borrower will be, then nothing is given at closing and up to $1,000 will be reimbursed after an inspection to confirm that the repairs have been completed. Note that this amount only counts towards materials, and that the labor of the borrower will not be reimbursed. If a contractor will be completing the work, as much as 33.3% of the contractor’s price will be offered at closing. Thirty days after closing, the repairs and rehabilitation must have been started. The applicants must then be utilizing the property as their primary residence within 60 days of closing. Finally, … ## REI Down Payment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/rei-down-payment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: REI Down Payment Assistance Program Content excerpt: Eligible applicants can receive down payment and closing cost assistance through the REI Down Payment Assistance Program. Assistance is offered as a grant, and can be as low as 3.5% of the loan amount or as high as 5% of the loan amount. In addition to the down payment and closing costs, this amount can also be used to help with any pre-paid items or other eligible fees. Only applicants who fall within specified annual household income limits will qualify. The minimum allowed credit score is 640, and the applicant’s debt-to-income (or DTI) ratio must be 45%. This grant can only be put towards primary residences. Fannie Mae HFA Preferred borrowers must be first-time homebuyers, but other borrowers do not have a first-time homebuyer requirement. Click here to search a different state. ## Rensselaer County Homebuyer Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/rensselaer-county-homebuyer-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Rensselaer County Homebuyer Program - State: New York Content excerpt: The Rensselaer County Homebuyer Program (RCHP) is offered by the Troy Rehabilitation and Improvement Program (TRIP)’s HomeOwnership Center. Applicants must be first-time homebuyers, meet certain income requirements, and have at least $1,500 in savings. They cannot already have a purchase contract on a house and also have to be willing to commit to a 10-year grant enforcement. Before applying for assistance, applicants must take a pre-purchase program. Assistance is offered in the form of grants of $15,000 to $20,000, and can be used for down payments and/or closing costs. Houses purchased using the program must be located in Rensselaer County, but not in Troy city limits, owner occupied, and have one or two units. The price of the home must also not exceed 95% of the median purchase price for the area. Properties also must be inspected for code compliance and certain health violations. Income Limits apply. … ## Rhode Island Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/rhode-island-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Rhode Island Down Payment Assistance - State: Rhode Island Content excerpt: Rhode Island has beautiful beaches, tasty food, and multiple popular attractions. However, rising real estate prices can make home ownership in Rhode Island difficult. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. Rhode Island Housing is one organization that offers such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Rhode Island, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! Spring7500 Program The Spring7500 Program, offered by Rhode Island Housing, allows eligible applicants to receive $7,500 to assist with the down payment of a home purchase. This assistance is offered in the form of a second mortgage that is forgiven after five years of residency in the home. This program is only available in Providence, Pawtucket, Woonsocket, Warwick, Cranston, and East Providence. Only first-time homebuyers can qualify for Spring7500. In addition, they have to fall within defined loan and income limits and have to obtain their first mortgage with a participating lender. … ## Riverside Down Payment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/riverside-down-payment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Riverside Down Payment Assistance Program - State: California Content excerpt: The Riverside Down Payment Assistance Program is funded by the CalHome Grant, which is offered by California’s Department of Housing and Community Development. Eligible applicants can receive up to $50,000 (or 25% of the purchase price - whichever is the lesser amount). This is a deferred-payment interest-free loan with a term of 30 years. The loan amount becomes due after the 30-year term, or when the house is sold, transferred, refinanced, or used as a rental property. Qualified applicants have to be first-time homebuyers, have a minimum credit score of 580, and fall within certain income limits. In addition, they must be able to put down a minimum of 1% of the sales price from their own funds. The purchase property must be the borrower’s primary residence, and fall within a purchase price limit. The property must be a single-family home, townhouse/condominium, or a manufactured home. … ## Romeoville Assist Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/romeoville-assist-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Romeoville Assist Program - State: Illinois Content excerpt: The Assistance Program (or Assist Program) is offered by Romeoville and other local communities. Three percent of a borrower’s loan amount is offered as a grant to help cover the costs of closing and the down payment. In order to qualify, an individual must be a first-time homebuyer and fall within certain income limits. This program cannot be used for refinancing. Only primary residences are allowed for the Assist Program. The property must be a new or existing, owner-occupied single-family home, townhome or condominium. The purchase price limits for 2022 are $331,205 for non-targeted areas and $404,806 for targeted areas. The income limits for the household for 2022 are: 1 or 2 person household in a Non-Targeted Area: $89,100 3 or more person household in a Non-Targeted Area: $102,465 1 or 2 person household in a Targeted Area: $106,920 3 or more person household in a Targeted Area: $124,740 Other programs in Illinois: Down Payment Plus Programs HOMEbuyer Program 1stHomeIllinois Chicago Home Buyer Assistance Program City of Alton’s Homeownership Program Joliet Down Payment Assistance Program Kane County First-Time Homebuyer Program Normal Homebuyer’s Down Payment Assistance Progr … ## Santa Ana Downpayment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/santa-ana-downpayment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Santa Ana Downpayment Assistance Program - State: California Content excerpt: First-time homebuyers in the city of Santa Ana may be able to utilize this down payment assistance program. Up to $40,000 as a 0% interest loan is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. In order to qualify, the applicant must be using the property as their primary residence. Applicants must also be first-time homebuyers, have not owned a house in the prior three years, have been pre-qualified for a mortgage, have acceptable credit, and fall within certain income limits. A minimum of 3% of the down payment must be paid using the applicant’s own funds. Further, a Homebuyer Counseling Program is required. The house being purchased must be a new or existing house or condo in Santa Ana and meet a specified purchase price. As of 2020, the total annual household income limits are as follows: Applicants must fall within specified annual household income limits. Annual household income is defined as any income earned by anyone in the household age 18 and up, even if they’re not listed on the mortgage loan. … ## School Teacher Employee Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/school-teacher-employee-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: School Teacher Employee Assistance Program - State: California Content excerpt: As the name suggests, the School Teacher Employee Assistance Program (or School Program for short) is meant to offer down payment assistance to eligible teachers, administrators, and other employees and staff members at K-12 public schools, charter schools, or county/continuation schools in California. A junior loan for up to 4% of the sale price is offered as assistance funds. It must be put towards the down payment and/or closing costs. The interest rate on this loan varies, so the consumer should check for updated information. Applicants must have a CalHFA mortgage loan. Location of the property plays a factor in approval. In addition to being school employees, applicants must also be first-time homebuyers, be able to show proof of their employment, and finish a homebuyer education class. The property must fall within specified purchase price limits, and can be a single-family, one-unit residence, approved condominium/PUD (guesthouses, granny units and in-law quarters may be allowed), or a manufactured house on a permanent foundation. … ## Score Advantage Down Payment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/score-advantage-down-payment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Score Advantage Down Payment Assistance Program - State: Montana Content excerpt: The Score Advantage Down Payment Assistance Program offers assistance funds for up to 5% of the sales price of a house (between $1,500 and $6,500) in the form of a junior loan. In order to be eligible, applicants must have a minimum middle credit score of 620. If the applicant doesn’t have any credit history, they may still qualify. If there are multiple applicants on the loan, the individual with the highest middle credit score will be used to calculate the interest rate. Applicants will also be required to finish a homebuyer education class, and put down a minimum of $1,000 towards the home purchase from their own funds. Other programs in Montana: NeighborWorks HOME Montana Or click here to search a different state. ## Seattle Downpayment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/seattle-downpayment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Seattle Downpayment Assistance Program - State: Washington Content excerpt: This downpayment assistance program, which is offered by Washington’s Housing Finance Commission as a second mortgage, can be combined with either the Home Advantage or Opportunity mortgage as the first loan. For those looking to buy their home in Seattle, as much as $55,000 is offered as down payment and closing cost assistance. Payments for this loan are deferred for as long as 30 years, with a 3% simple interest rate. Only first-time homebuyers who plan to use their home as a primary residence are allowed. Applicants must participate in a homebuying education seminar, which is also offered by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, and obtain a certificate of completion. They are five hours or longer and offer information necessary to purchase, own and maintain a home. Advanced reservations are required for seminars. Applicants must be able to put down at least 1% of the sales price of the house, or $2,500 (whichever amount is larger). Gift funds can be used for as much as 25% of the required payment, but no more than that. Borrowers must also fall within specified household income limits, which depend on household size. … ## Sioux Falls Homebuyer Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/sioux-falls-homebuyer-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Sioux Falls Homebuyer Assistance Program - State: South Dakota Content excerpt: The Sioux Falls Homebuyer Assistance program was founded in 1998 and since then has helped many low and moderate-income families own homes. As much as $5,000 is offered as a deferred-payment loan with 0% interest. This only becomes due once the property is sold or is no longer the borrower’s primary residence. In order to qualify for this loan, an applicant must have a household annual income less than 80% of the area median income. Further, applicants must be first-time homebuyers, displaced homemakers, families living in manufactured housing, or families living in housing that cannot be rehabilitated. Individuals who apply must be able to show that they’re financially responsible by having no past-due bills or debts and having a history of paying all financial obligations in a timely manner. In the event that an application is denied due to financial irresponsibility, the applicant can reapply either six months after becoming current on all financial obligations, or six months after the first application was denied (whichever is second). Applicants must also have a first mortgage that falls within specified criteria for this program. … ## Smart Solution Second URL: https://www.ratezip.com/smart-solution-second - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Smart Solution Second - State: Mississippi Content excerpt: Offered through the Mississippi Home Corporation, Smart Solution Second is an add-on down payment assistance program to the Smart Solution Mortgage. Smart Solution Second provides a down payment of 3.5% of the house’s purchase price. It’s offered as a second mortgage with a 10-year loan term and the same interest rate as the first Smart Solution Mortgage. The same requirements for the Smart Solution Mortgage apply for Smart Solution Second. Namely, the property being purchased using these programs must be owner-occupied, found in Mississippi, and be either a single-family house, townhome, condominium or duplex. Manufactured houses are also allowed as long as they have FHA financing. Furthermore, the applicants’ annual household income cannot be more than $95,000 as of 2020. All applicants must be a United States legal resident and have a credit score 640 or higher. Other programs in Mississippi: Mortgage Revenue Bond 7 Housing Assistance for Teachers Or click here to search a different state. ## South Carolina Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/south-carolina-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: South Carolina Down Payment Assistance - State: South Carolina Content excerpt: South Carolina is known for beautiful beaches and golf courses, making it a popular spot for both home owners and tourists alike. Rising real estate prices can make home ownership in South Carolina difficult, however. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority is one organization that offers such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in South Carolina, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! Homeownership Program Through the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority’s Homeownership Program, two different types of down payment assistance are offered. This program is meant to help families with low-to-moderate income. This first type of down payment assistance is Repayable. As much as $6,000 is offered as a second mortgage with a term of 10 years and a 2% interest rate. It’s for those who have an income higher than 80% of the area median income, and is used to finance new construction houses. … ## South Dakota Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/south-dakota-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: South Dakota Down Payment Assistance - State: South Dakota Content excerpt: Famous for its agriculture and for tourism hot spots (including Mount Rushmore), South Dakota has something for everyone! Increasing real estate prices can make home ownership in South Dakota difficult, however. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The South Dakota Housing Development Authority is one organization that offers such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in South Dakota, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! HAPI Down Payment Closing Cost Assistance Homes Are Possible, Inc. (HAPI) offers two types of assistance, one for those in Brown County, South Dakota, and one for those in South Dakota but outside of Brown County. HAPI Down Payment Closing Cost Assistance for those in Brown County offers a $3,500 non-forgivable loan with no interest. This loan is only paid back when your house is sold, refinanced, or the title is transferred. For HAPI Housing Opportunity Funds, a $4,000 forgivable grant is offered to those outside of Brown County. … ## Southern Mortgage Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/southern-mortgage-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Southern Mortgage Assistance Program - State: Louisiana Content excerpt: This program, offered by the Jefferson Parish Finance Authority, provides up to 4% of the loan amount as down payment or closing cost assistance. Assistance is offered in the form of a grant. FHA, VA, or RHS loan borrowers can receive up to 3% or 4% of the loan amount, while Freddie Mac HFA Advantage Loan can receive up to 3%. In order to qualify, an individual can have a credit score no lower than 640. Annual income cannot be more than $69,000 (for FHA, VA, or RHS) or $99,000 (for Freddie Mac HFA Advantage Loan). Those utilizing a Freddie Mac HFA Advantage Loan must be first time homebuyers and must complete homebuyer education. Only properties located within the Parish of Jefferson and which fall under the specified purchase price limits are eligible for this program. There is no limit for an RHS loan. Only single-family homes are allowed, but properties can be either new or existing residences. The property must be used as the applicant’s primary residence. Manufactured housing is not allowed. … ## Spring7500 Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/spring7500-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Spring7500 Program - State: Rhode Island Content excerpt: The Spring7500 Program, offered by Rhode Island Housing, allows eligible applicants to receive $7,500 to assist with the down payment of a home purchase. This assistance is offered in the form of a second mortgage that is forgiven after five years of residency in the home. This program is only available in Providence, Pawtucket, Woonsocket, Warwick, Cranston, and East Providence. Only first-time homebuyers can qualify for Spring7500. In addition, they have to fall within defined loan and income limits and have to obtain their first mortgage with a participating lender. Properties can be 1 to 4-unit family houses or condominiums, but the applicant must plan on using the property as their primary residence. As of 2020, the loan limit is $424,100 and the income limits are $87,360 for a 1-2 person household, or $101,920 for a 3 or more person household. Click here to search a different state. ## Springfield Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/springfield-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Springfield Down Payment Assistance - State: Missouri Content excerpt: For first-time homebuyers or select displaced individuals in Springfield, as much as $5,000 can be offered as assistance funds. This is a forgivable 10-year loan with no interest or monthly payments. As of 2020, the maximum sales price allowed is $130,000. Applicants will need to be pre-qualified for a first mortgage. A buyer’s guide and lender’s guide are both available for more information on this program. For applicants, household income limits apply, which as of 2022 are as follows: 1-person household: $36,050 2-person household: $41,200 3-person household: $46,350 4-person household: $51,000 5-person household: $55,650 6-person household: $59,750 7-person household: $63,900 8-person household: $68,000 Other programs in Missouri: First Place Loan Program with Cash Assistance Next Step Cash Assistance Loan CAASTLC Down Payment Assistance Individual Development Account Columbia Homeownership Assistance Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Start Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/start-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Start Program - State: North Dakota Content excerpt: The Start Program was founded by the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency as a way to assist eligible individuals with down payments and closing costs. The Start Program can be used with one of NDHFA’s mortgages, which include FirstHome, HomeAccess, North Dakota Roots, Major Home Improvement, or Targeted Area loan. As much as 3% of the purchase price of the house is offered as a credit to the borrower. In order to qualify, applicants have to fall within a certain annual household income, which depends on location and household size. Applicants must also be able to put down at least $500 from their own funds towards the purchase. All properties purchased using this program must fall within limits and be the applicant’s primary residence. Other programs in North Dakota: NDHFA Downpayment and Closing Cost Assistance Program Or click here to search a different state. ## State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/state-housing-initiatives-partnership-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program - State: Florida Content excerpt: The State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program offers a 0% interest loan for as much as 10% of a house’s purchase price. This loan only has to be paid back when the applicant sells the house, rents it out, or does not use the house as a primary residence anymore. In order to qualify, applicants cannot have owned a house in the previous three years (must be first-time homebuyers), and have to have been working or living in Charlotte County for the previous six months. Borrowers also have to meet certain debt-to-income ratios: less than 30% for their first mortgage and less than 40% total (not including utilities). In addition to paying $500 towards the down payment from their own funds, borrowers also have to finish a homebuyer education program. Eligible properties include owner-occupied new or existing single-family homes or qualified condominiums that meet specified purchase price limits. The home must be in Charlotte County and cannot be a mobile home. Borrowers must fall under certain annual household limits. … ## Step Up Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/step-up-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Step Up Program - State: Alabama Content excerpt: The Step Up Program, offered by the Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA), provides a loan of as much as 3% of the purchase price of a home to eligible applicants to help cover the costs of the down payment, closing costs, and prepaid items. The loan is a second mortgage with a 10-year term and is combined with a 30-year fixed rate mortgage. Interested borrowers must have a minimum credit score of 620, an annual household income of less than $97,300, and must finish a homebuyer education class. In order to be eligible, the home being purchased must be in Alabama and the borrower must use the house as their primary residence no more than 60 days after closing. Other programs in Alabama: Mobile County Down Payment Assistance Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Tacoma Down Payment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/tacoma-down-payment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Tacoma Down Payment Assistance Program - State: Washington Content excerpt: Offered by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, Tacoma Down Payment Assistance is a loan in the form of a second mortgage that can be used with the Home Advantage loan. As much as $20,000 is offered to help with costs associated with closing and the down payment. This loan has a simple interest of 4%, but payments can be deferred for up to 30 years. While this loan does not have a monthly payment requirement, the loan must be repaid either when the house is sold, refinanced, transferred, is no longer the borrower’s primary residence, or when the first mortgage has been paid in full. In order to qualify, the applicant must be a first-time homebuyer and must be planning on using the house as their primary residence. The applicant must be able contribute at least $500 towards the home purchase, but this is allowed to be from gift funds if necessary. Homebuyer education will be required. Applicants also have to meet specified income limits, which as of 2022, … ## Take Charge America URL: https://www.ratezip.com/take-charge-america - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Take Charge America - State: Arizona Content excerpt: Take Charge America is headquartered in Arizona but works in multiple states. The offer financial management help, delinquency and default counseling, post-purchase workshops, and pre-purchase counseling and education in both English and Spanish. The online homebuyer education class that Take Charge America offers is called Make Your Move (“MYM”). This class lasts approximately eight hours and is a requirement for multiple down payment assistance options, including Home in 5, HOME Plus, Pathways to Purchase and Home Ready. Because this class is online, it can be accessed anywhere, anytime, as long as there is an internet connection. Some topics covered include differences between renting and buying, how to budget and check your credit, what goes into purchasing a home, the process of getting a mortgage, home maintenance, and more. This class has a $100 fee, and in order to get an education certificate, the attendee must earn at least a 70%. Take Charge America was founded in 1987. • Contact Info: • Website: www.takechargeamerica.org • Phone: 623-266-6100 • Address: 20620 N 19th Ave Phoenix, … ## Tennessee Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/tennessee-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Tennessee Down Payment Assistance - State: Tennessee Content excerpt: Home to both beautiful national parks and beautiful music, Tennessee has something for everyone! However, rising real estate prices can make home ownership in Tennessee difficult. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The Tennessee Housing Development Agency is one organization that offers such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Tennessee, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Click on any program below to learn more and see if it can help with your home purchase! First Time Home-Buyers Program Through the Housing and Community Development Office of Clarksville, eligible applicants can receive down payment and closing cost assistance. Assistance is offered in the form of a second mortgage. Down payment assistance can be forgiven as long as the applicant uses the house as their primary residence for a minimum of five years and one month. Closing cost assistance needs to be repaid if the property is sold or transferred. Applicants must meet numerous requirements in order to be eligible for this program. … ## Texas Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/texas-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Texas Down Payment Assistance - State: Texas Content excerpt: Whether you're looking for a ranch lifestyle or love city life, Texas has something for everyone! However, rising real estate prices can make home ownership in Texas difficult. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. Such programs are offered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, the South-East Texas Housing Finance Corporation, the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation, and more! If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Texas, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Click on any program below to learn more and see if it can help with your home purchase! My First Texas Home My Choice Texas Home Hill Country Home Down Payment Assistance 5 Star Texas Advantage Program Home Star Program Homeownership Across Texas Homes for Texas Heroes Program My First Texas Home The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) offers the My First Texas Home Program to eligible applicants. This program is meant for first-time homebuyers, homebuyers who have not owned a house for three years or more, and veterans. … ## The Primavera Foundation URL: https://www.ratezip.com/the-primavera-foundation - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: The Primavera Foundation - State: Arizona Content excerpt: The Primavera Foundation started as a humble soup kitchen to help the many homeless individuals living in Tucson. Unfortunately, the neighborhood sued for the closure of the soup kitchen, but that didn’t stop founders Gordon Packard and Nancy Bissell. They and many other dedicated individuals went on to continue offering services to help all members of the community. Today, specifically for housing, the Primavera Foundation offers education, workshops and counseling for pre-purchase, budgeting, rental housing, and more. These services are offered in both English and Spanish. Contact Info: Website: www.primavera.org Phone: 520-882-5383 Address: 151 W 40th St Tucson, Arizona 85713-3994 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Arizona Family Housing Resources Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona Western Arizona Council of Governments Chicanos Por La Causa Greater Phoenix Urban League Money Management International - Phoenix Branch NACA Arizona UnidosUS Housing & Financial Empowerment NID Housing Counseling Agency Arizona Take Charge America Trellis Comite de Bien Estar, … ## THRHA Down Payment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/thrha-down-payment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: THRHA Down Payment Assistance Program - State: Alaska Content excerpt: The Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority (THRHA) Down Payment Assistance Program is meant to help income-eligible Native Americans or Alaskan Natives with down payment and closing costs. As much as $20,000 is offered in the form of a second mortgage with a ten-year term and a 5% fixed rate. For the first five years of the loan, payment is deferred and 10% of the loan is forgiven for each year that the house serves as the applicant’s primary residence. After the first five years, payments will need to be made for the duration of the loan term until the remaining balance has been paid off. The full amount will become due if the house is sold before the 10-year term. Applicants must pay a 1.5% loan origination fee as well as a $50 processing fee. In addition to being Native Americans or Alaskan Natives, eligible applicants must also be first-time homebuyers, live in the southeastern part of Alaska, and have an annual household income that’s not more than 80% of the area median income. Individuals will also have to finish a homebuyer education course and show that THRHA funds are necessary to be qualified for a bank loan. … ## Trellis URL: https://www.ratezip.com/trellis - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Trellis - State: Arizona Content excerpt: Trellis is an HUD-approved counseling agency that offers help with budgeting, financial management, and pre-purchase counseling, education and workshops. Services are offered in English and Spanish, as well as select other languages. Trellis was founded in 1975 as the Neighborhood Housing Services of Phoenix. To date, they have helped more than 3,500 individuals to become homeowners, offered education and counseling services to over 42,000 people, and have built 350 houses. An additional 100 houses should be finished during the next several years. Trellis is a part of NeighborWorks, a national organization. NeighborWorks can be found in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. • Contact Info: • Website: www.trellisaz.org • Phone: 602-258-1659 • Address: • 1405 E McDowell Rd Phoenix, … ## Turnkey Mortgage Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/turnkey-mortgage-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Turnkey Mortgage Program - State: Colorado Content excerpt: Created by the Economic Development Department of El Paso County, the Turnkey Mortgage Program offers fixed-rate 30 year mortgages and down payment assistance of up to 4% of the loan amount to eligible applicants. This assistance is a grant that does not need to be repaid. In order to be eligible, applicants must be purchasing a home in El Paso County, and must not have an annual household income of more than $108,920. The maximum allowed debt-to-income ratio is 45%, and the minimum credit score is 640. If the borrower has an FHA loan and a credit score less than 659 but greater than 640, they can receive a 3% grant. If the borrower has a Freddie Mac HFA Advantage Conventional Loan, they will be required to complete a homebuyer education class. Other programs in Colorado: Metro Mortgage Assistance Plus Program Or click here to search a different state. ## UHC Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/uhc-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: UHC Down Payment Assistance - State: Utah Content excerpt: The Utah Housing Corporation (UHC) offers a variety of mortgage loans. These include the FirstHome Loan, the Home Again Loan, the Score Loan, and the NoMI Loan. When a borrower utilizes one of the above loan products, they can receive a second mortgage to use as down payment assistance. The assistance amount depends on the type and amount of the loan. Borrowers can receive as much as 6% of the FirstHome Loan or HomeAgain Loan amount, as much as 4% of the Score Loan, or as much as 5% of the NoMI loan. In order to get one of the above loans, the applicant has to contact a participating lender. A list of participating lenders is given on the UHC’s website, but as of 2020, the top lenders producing the most UHC loans are Intercap Lending Inc., Academy Mortgage Corporation, Security National Mortgage Company, Citywide Home Loans, and Veritas Funding, LLC. For the FirstHome Loan, the applicant must be a first-time homebuyer, but the other three loans do not have this requirement. Applicants will have to meet a minimum credit score requirement and must be planning on using their new home as their primary residence. Other conditions may apply. … ## UnidosUS Housing & Financial Empowerment URL: https://www.ratezip.com/unidosus-housing-financial-empowerment - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: UnidosUS Housing & Financial Empowerment - State: Arizona Content excerpt: UnidosUS offers both English and Spanish HUD-approved delinquency and default counseling, pre-purchase counseling, and rental housing counseling. In addition, UnidosUS also offers loan modification counseling, homebuyer education, post-purchase counseling, and financial coaching through telephone. More than 150,000 people have utilized UnidosUS’s counseling services. • Contact Info: • Website: www.uushfe.org • Phone: 602-875-2111 • Address: • 1150 E. Jefferson St. PHOENIX, Arizona 85034-2224 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Arizona Family Housing Resources Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona Western Arizona Council of Governments Chicanos Por La Causa Greater Phoenix Urban League Money Management International - Phoenix Branch NACA Arizona UnidosUS Housing & Financial Empowerment NID Housing Counseling Agency Arizona Take Charge America Trellis Comite de Bien Estar, … ## United Way of Central Alabama, Inc URL: https://www.ratezip.com/united-way-of-central-alabama-inc - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: United Way of Central Alabama, Inc - State: Alabama Content excerpt: The United Way of Central Alabama, Inc, (UWCA) is an HUD-approved counseling agency that offers multiple workshops, education, and counseling services, including: Fair Housing Pre-Purchase Education Workshops Financial Management/Budget Counseling Mortgage Delinquency and Default Resolution Counseling Financial, Budgeting, and Credit Workshops Non-Delinquency Post Purchase Workshops Pre-purchase Counseling Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Workshops Predatory Lending Education Workshops Reverse Mortgage Counseling Rental Housing Counseling Rental Housing Workshops Home Improvement and Rehabilitation Counseling Homeless Counseling UWCA’s history goes all the way back to 1923, when it was founded. Contact Info: Website: www.uwca.org Phone: 205-458-8964 Address: 3600 8th Ave S Birmingham, Alabama 35222-3250 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Alabama: Alabama Council on Human Relations, Inc Birmingham Urban League Gateway NACA Alabama Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc. Operation Hope Birmingham United Way of Central Alabama, … ## Utah Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/utah-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Utah Down Payment Assistance - State: Utah Content excerpt: Utah is widely regarded as one of the best states for skiing, and nature lovers from all over enjoy its beautiful mountains. However, it also is one of the states with the highest median housing prices . This can make home ownership in Utah difficult. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. Such programs are offered by the Utah Housing Corporation, the Bear River Association of Governments, Neighborhood Housing Solutions, and more! If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Utah, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Click on any program below to learn more and see if it can help with your home purchase! UHC Down Payment Assistance CDCU Down Payment Assistance West Valley City Down Payment Assistance Grant BRAG First Time Homebuyer Assistance Welcome Home: Own in Logan Weber Housing Authority Homeownership Assistance Program Own in Odgen Program Davis First Time Home Buyer Clearfield First Time Home Buyer City of West Jordan Down Payment Assistance Program Loan to Own Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Provo Home Purchase Plus Program UHC Down Payment Assistance The Uta … ## Vermont Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/vermont-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Vermont Down Payment Assistance - State: Vermont Content excerpt: Hikers, skiers, and nature lovers all love Vermont! However, rising real estate prices can make home ownership in Vermont difficult. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The Vermont Housing and Finance Association and the Champlain Housing Trust are two organizations that offer such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Vermont, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Click on any program below to learn more and see if it can help with your home purchase! Vermont Housing and Finance Association ASSIST Loan The Vermont Housing and Finance Association, also known as the VHFA, provides an ASSIST loan to eligible individuals also utilizing a VHFA mortgage. As much as $5,000 is offered as a second mortgage with 0% interest and deferred payment. The loan amount only becomes due once the property is refinanced or sold. This assistance can be used in a variety of ways to help with closing costs, the down payment, or other expenses associated with obtaining a mortgage. … ## Vermont Housing and Finance Association ASSIST Loan URL: https://www.ratezip.com/vermont-housing-and-finance-association-assist-loan - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Vermont Housing and Finance Association ASSIST Loan - State: Vermont Content excerpt: The Vermont Housing and Finance Association, also known as the VHFA, provides an ASSIST loan to eligible individuals also utilizing a VHFA mortgage. As much as $5,000 is offered as a second mortgage with 0% interest and deferred payment. The loan amount only becomes due once the property is refinanced or sold. This assistance can be used in a variety of ways to help with closing costs, the down payment, or other expenses associated with obtaining a mortgage. Please note that the amount of assistance offered cannot be more than the total combined closing cost and down payment. Only first-time homebuyers who meet defined asset limitations will be eligible for this program. All applicants must finish approved homebuyer education. Other programs in Vermont: Manufactured Housing Down Payment Loan Programs Or click here to search a different state. ## Veterans Downpayment Assistance Loan Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/veterans-downpayment-assistance-loan-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Veterans Downpayment Assistance Loan Program - State: Washington Content excerpt: This Down payment assistance program specifically for veterans is offered by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission. This program, which is meant to be combined with a HomeAdvantage mortgage, can offer qualified veterans as much as $10,000 in assistance funds. This is offered as a 3% interest second mortgage with a 10-year term. In order to qualify, the applicant must be: an individual with an honorable discharge or an honorable record and a medical discharge; a current member of the Washington National Guard and Reserve, or a former member with an honorable discharge; or a never-remarried spouse or dependent child of a deceased veteran. Applicants must also be either first-time homebuyers or purchasing a house in a designated target area. A homebuyer seminar must also be attended. … ## VHDA Down Payment Assistance Grant URL: https://www.ratezip.com/vhda-down-payment-assistance-grant - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: VHDA Down Payment Assistance Grant - State: Virginia Content excerpt: This Down Payment Assistance Grant is generously offered by the Virginia Housing Development Authority. Because this is a grant, it does not need to be paid back. Between 2% and 2.5% of the purchase price of a house is given to qualified applicants that are utilizing an eligible mortgage program. Only first-time homebuyers are eligible; however, an exception can be made for those purchasing in a specified target area. Individuals cannot have a credit score lower than 620 if they’re utilizing an FHA loan, or 660 for a Fannie Mae No MI loan, or 640 for a Fannie Mae Reduced MI loan. Further, individuals cannot have a DTI higher than 45%. There are also specified household income limits that have to be met. Only primary residences are applicable for this grant, and the individual must keep using the house as their primary residence for at least one year. Finally, all individuals must complete homebuyer education (unless the house is in a target area location) and counseling. Other programs in Virginia: HOMEownership Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Virginia Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/virginia-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Virginia Down Payment Assistance - State: Virginia Content excerpt: Virginia, considered the "birthplace" of the United States, has moderate temperatures year round and multiple national parks and beautiful landscapes. However, rising real estate prices can make home ownership in Virginia difficult. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development and the Virginia Housing Development Authority are two organizations that offer such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Virginia, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! HOMEownership Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program This program is offered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. In addition to being first-time homebuyers, applicants for this program must also be creditworthy, have an income at or under 80% of the area median income (which is also determined by location and household size), and complete homebuyer education and counseling. … ## Walker County Community Action Agency URL: https://www.ratezip.com/walker-county-community-action-agency - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Walker County Community Action Agency - State: Alabama Content excerpt: The following services are offered at this HUD-approved Community Action Agency: Financial Management/Budget Counseling; Financial, Budgeting, and Credit Workshops; Mortgage Delinquency and Default Resolution Counseling; Pre-purchase Counseling; Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Workshops; Rental Housing Counseling; Rental Housing Workshops; Resolving/Preventing Mortgage Delinquency Workshops; and Services for Homeless Counseling. The Community Action Partnership is nationwide organization that offers assistance to Community Action Agencies, which are funded by the federal Community Services Block Grant. Contact Info: Website: caawalker.org Phone: 205-221-4011 Address: 644 19th St W Jasper, Alabama 35501-5353 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Alabama: Alabama Council on Human Relations, Inc Birmingham Urban League Gateway NACA Alabama Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc. Operation Hope Birmingham United Way of Central Alabama, Inc Community Action Partnership of North Alabama Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama Community Action Partnership of Huntsville, Madison, … ## Washington Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/washington-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Washington Down Payment Assistance - State: Washington Content excerpt: Whether you want to be in Washington's bustling cities or enjoying its picturesque nature, the state of Washington has something for everyone. However, it's also listed as one of the states with the highest average mortgage debt and median housing prices. This can make homeownership in Washington difficult. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The Washington State Housing Finance Commission is one organization that offers such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Washington, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Click on any program below to learn more and see if it can help with your home purchase! Tacoma Down Payment Assistance Program Seattle Downpayment Assistance Program Pierce County Downpayment Assistance Program Opportunity Downpayment Assistance Loan Program HomeChoice Down Payment Assistance Program Bellingham Downpayment Assistance ARCH East King County Downpayment Assistance Loan Home Advantage Down Payment Assistance Loan Program Veterans Downpayment Assistance Loan Program Tacoma Down Payment Assistance Program Offered by the Washington State … ## Waterloo Down Payment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/waterloo-down-payment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Waterloo Down Payment Assistance Program - State: Iowa Content excerpt: Residents of Waterloo may be eligible for the Waterloo Down Payment Assistance Program, which offers a forgivable second mortgage to help covers costs associated with the down payment. In the event that the applicant sells their home in within 5 years, the loan amount must be paid back. Applicants must be residents of Waterloo for at least a year, be first-time homebuyers, and have a total household annual income less than 80% of the area median income. Homebuyer education is required. Ideally, borrowers should be able to pay for the closing costs using their own funds. Applicants must fall within specified income limits.These limits apply to all members of the household who are at least 18, regardless of whether or not they are on the mortgage. Other programs in Iowa: Home$tart and Home$tart Plus Programs Military Homeownership Assistance Program FirstHome Dubuque First-Time Homebuyer Loan Program Cedar Rapids First Time Home Buyer Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Weber Housing Authority Homeownership Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/weber-housing-authority-homeownership-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Weber Housing Authority Homeownership Assistance Program - State: Utah Content excerpt: A $5,000, 0% interest loan with deferred payments is offered to qualified households in Weber County. The assistance funds can be used to help with either the down payment, closing costs, or for a principal reduction of the loan. Funding is limited and available first-come, first-serve. Other programs in Utah: UHC Down Payment Assistance CDCU Down Payment Assistance West Valley City Down Payment Assistance Grant BRAG First Time Homebuyer Assistance Welcome Home: Own in Logan Own in Odgen Program Davis First Time Home Buyer Clearfield First Time Home Buyer City of West Jordan Down Payment Assistance Program Loan to Own Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Provo Home Purchase Plus Program Or click here to search a different state. ## Welcome Home: Own in Logan URL: https://www.ratezip.com/welcome-home-own-in-logan - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Welcome Home: Own in Logan - State: Utah Content excerpt: Neighborhood Housing Solutions’ Welcome Home: Own in Logan program has helped more than 200 households so far. This program is for first-time homebuyers in Logan, Utah. As much as $7,500 is offered by Neighborhood Housing Solutions in the form of two different grants. The first grant that Welcome Home offers is a base grant of $5,000. Applicants must be able to put down $500 from their own assets (not including gift funds). This grant does not need to be repaid unless the property is sold, refinanced, or meets certain other conditions. The second grant is for as much as $2,500 and is a matching grant, which means that Neighborhood Housing Solutions will match the payment that you put down after the first $500 for up to $2,500. As long as you remain in the house for a period of at least 10 years, this grant does not need to be repaid. Only existing, single-family, houses are allowed. Condos, townhomes, duplexes, and new construction houses cannot be purchased using these grants. Applicants have to obtain an eligible loan in order to utilize this program. Loans with 100% financing are not allowed, … ## Welcome Home Wyoming Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/welcome-home-wyoming-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Welcome Home Wyoming Program - State: Wyoming Content excerpt: The Welcome Home Wyoming program has many different options for those looking to purchase a home in the state of Wyoming. This includes down payment assistance for as much as 6% of the first mortgage amount. In addition to a 30-year mortgage and the above down payment assistance, applicants also have the option of utilizing other forms of down payment assistance, or a mortgage without down payment assistance but with a very low interest rate. Applicants will have to pass a homebuying education course and fall within defined income limits, which vary by loan type and county. Other programs in Wyoming: Home$tretch Loan Program Or click here to search a different state. ## West Valley City Down Payment Assistance Grant URL: https://www.ratezip.com/west-valley-city-down-payment-assistance-grant - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: West Valley City Down Payment Assistance Grant - State: Utah Content excerpt: The West Valley City Down Payment Assistance Grant offers a grant of $5,000 to low and moderate-income families. Because funds are limited, assistance is given first-come, first-served. In order to qualify, an individual must be able to provide at least $2,000 from their own funds towards the home purchase. This cannot be a gift or be paid by the realtor or seller. Furthermore, the individual’s front-end housing ratio cannot be more than 31% and their DTI cannot be more than 43%. Applicant’s also have to fall within applicable income limits. In order for a property to be eligible for this program, it must be in West Valley City, owner-occupied, and an existing single-family house, condo or town-house. All structures must have had a minimum of one occupant prior to the applicant and cannot be a new construction house. … ## West Virginia Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/west-virginia-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: West Virginia Down Payment Assistance - State: West Virginia Content excerpt: West Virginia has both the lowest average mortgage debt and the lowest median home prices in the country! This means that people looking for real estate may find lots of affordable options here. Those looking for extra help may also be able to utilize local and national programs that exist to offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The West Virginia Housing Development Fund is one organization that offers such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in West Virginia, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! Movin’ Up Program Offered by the West Virginia Housing Development Fund, the Movin’ Up Program offers a loan with 3.75% interest (4.254% APR) (as of March 2022) as down payment assistance. If the loan-to-value (LTV) is higher than 90%, $5,000 will be offered. If the LTV is lower than 90%, $8,000 will be offered. In order to be applicable, the property must be a single-family structure, townhouse, condominium, manufactured home, or Planned Unit Development unit in West Virginia. … ## Western Arizona Council of Governments URL: https://www.ratezip.com/western-arizona-council-of-governments - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Western Arizona Council of Governments - State: Arizona Content excerpt: The Western Arizona Council of Governments (or “WACOG”) offers a variety of services related to housing, including: Fair Housing Pre-Purchase Education Workshops Financial Management/Budget Counseling Home Improvement and Rehabilitation Counseling Mortgage Delinquency and Default Resolution Counseling Non-Delinquency Post Purchase Workshops Pre-purchase Counseling Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Workshops Predatory Lending Education Workshops Rental Housing Counseling Reverse Mortgage Counseling Services for Homeless Counseling WACOG is HUD-approved and serves La Paz, Mohave and Yuma Counties. Contact Info: Website: https://www.wacog.com/ Phone: 928-217-7161 Address: 208 North 4th St. Kingman, Arizona 86401-5815 Other housing education and counseling agencies in Arizona Family Housing Resources Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona Western Arizona Council of Governments Chicanos Por La Causa Greater Phoenix Urban League Money Management International - Phoenix Branch NACA Arizona UnidosUS Housing & Financial Empowerment NID Housing Counseling Agency Arizona Take Charge America Trellis Comite de Bien Estar, … ## Wisconsin Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/wisconsin-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Wisconsin Down Payment Assistance - State: Wisconsin Content excerpt: Wisconsin, otherwise known as America's Dairyland, is home to much more than cheese! However, rising real estate prices can make home ownership difficult for those looking to purchase property in Wisconsin. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority is one organization that offers such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Wisconsin, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! Easy Close Advantage Program The Easy Close Advantage Program is an initiative by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority to help those who otherwise might not be able to afford the down payment of a house. It provides a loan with a fixed interest rate and a 10-year term to help cover the costs of closing and the down payment. In addition, the program provides free homebuyer education and counseling, as well as other resources. This homebuyer education is required prior to an applicant being approved. In order to qualify, … ## Workforce Advantage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/workforce-advantage - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Workforce Advantage - State: Massachusetts Content excerpt: Workforce Advantage is a MassHousing Loan that has down payment assistance for qualified borrowers. It’s meant for low-income first-time homebuyers looking to purchase property in Boston, Attleboro, Barnstable, Brockton, Chelsea, Chicopee, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Methuen, New Bedford, Peabody, Pittsfield, Quincy, Revere, Salem, Springfield, Taunton, Westfield, or Worcester. In order to be eligible, borrowers must not earn more than 80% of the Area Median Income, or AMI. Down payment assistance is offered in the form of loan for up to 3% of the property’s purchase price, or $15,000 (whichever is the smaller amount). Workforce Advantage was made possible thanks to a $2.5 million grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Other programs in Massachusetts: MassHousing Down Payment Assistance Program Operation Welcome Home Or click here to search a different state. ## Wyoming Down Payment Assistance URL: https://www.ratezip.com/wyoming-down-payment-assistance - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Wyoming Down Payment Assistance - State: Wyoming Content excerpt: Wyoming has seven national parks and many natural wonders, including hot springs and the iconic geyser Old Faithful. Many people want to purchase property in this beautiful state, but rising real estate prices can make home ownership difficult. Luckily, local and national programs exist that offer down payment assistance and grants to qualified applicants. The Wyoming County Development Authority (or WCDA) is one organization that offers such programs. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Wyoming, you may have options to help with the down payment or closing costs. Read below to learn more about any program and see if it can help with your home purchase! Welcome Home Wyoming Program The Welcome Home Wyoming program has many different options for those looking to purchase a home in the state of Wyoming. This includes down payment assistance for as much as 6% of the first mortgage amount. In addition to a 30-year mortgage and the above down payment assistance, applicants also have the option of utilizing other forms of down payment assistance, or a mortgage without down payment assistance but with a very low interest rate. … ## Your Choice! Down Payment Assistance Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/your-choice-down-payment-assistance-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Your Choice! Down Payment Assistance Program - State: Ohio Content excerpt: The Ohio Housing and Finance Agency (OHFA) offers Your Choice! to provide qualified individuals with down payment and closing cost assistance. 2.5% or 5% of the loan amount is then offered to help the individual with the costs of the down payment, closing, and other approved expenses. This is a forgivable loan that does not need to be paid back unless the applicant sells or refinances their property within 7 years. Applicants must fall within specified income and purchase price limits. Applicants must also have a minimum score of 640 (or 660 for certain loans). Applicants must have a completed Purchase Agreement, and must finish a homebuyer education course. Properties must meet certain requirements. The property cannot be more than 2 acres if inside a municipal corporation, or 5 acres if outside of a municipal corporation. However, additional acreage will be accepted if it is required by safety or health codes. Existing single-family dwellings, conforming condominiums, duplexes, and up to four-unit properties, new one-unit single-family dwellings, and one-unit modular homes are all allowed. … ## Your Kentucky Home Program URL: https://www.ratezip.com/your-kentucky-home-program - Type: homebuyer assistance program - Program: Your Kentucky Home Program - State: Kentucky Content excerpt: This initiative, offered by the Kentucky Association of Counties, allows eligible applicants to receive a grant to help pay for a reduction of the principal mortgage amount, the down payment, or closing costs. As much as 5% of the loan amount is offered. This grant works in combination with a mortgage. In order to be applicable, individuals must have a credit score no lower than 640, fall within an income limit of 115% of the area median income, and meet credit and federal standards. This program is available anywhere in Kentucky state. However, the lender must be a participating partner of the program. Other programs in Kentucky: Covington Homebuyer Assistance Program Hardest Hit Fund Down Payment Assistance Louisville Down Payment Assistance Program Or click here to search a different state. ## RateZip Rate Index URL: https://www.ratezip.com/rate-index - Type: RateZip data page Summary: Daily index of tracked bank CD and savings APYs with 16 years of history, top-10 rate tables, and daily by-lender partner mortgage rates. ## Today's Mortgage Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/mortgage-rates - Type: RateZip data page Summary: Daily national mortgage rate averages by product — 30-year and 15-year conforming, jumbo, FHA, VA, USDA — from actual locked rates (Optimal Blue Mortgage Market Indices via FRED), with day/week/year changes and 52-week ranges, plus posted partner rates. ## Mortgage Demand Index URL: https://www.ratezip.com/data/mortgage-demand - Type: RateZip data page Summary: Monthly US mortgage-shopper demand mix (purchase, refinance, home equity) since 2011, expressed as shares of inquiries with borrower-profile medians. ## Rate Moves URL: https://www.ratezip.com/data/rate-moves - Type: RateZip data page Summary: Weekly notes on notable tracked-rate changes across banks and lenders. ## Reverse Mortgage Demand URL: https://www.ratezip.com/data/reverse-mortgage - Type: RateZip data page Summary: Reverse-mortgage inquiry demand trends and borrower profile, including reverse's share of equity-tapping inquiries and top metro areas. ## Worst Credit Cities URL: https://www.ratezip.com/data/worst-credit-cities - Type: RateZip data page Summary: US cities ranked by the share of mortgage shoppers reporting fair or poor credit, from RateZip's inquiry flow since 2019. ## The Savings Gap URL: https://www.ratezip.com/data/savings-gap - Type: RateZip data page Summary: Daily spread between the best tracked online savings APY and the average posted savings APY at Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo, with the year-one dollar cost of the difference at several balances. Both sides measured from the same day's snapshot. ## Home Value Movers URL: https://www.ratezip.com/data/home-value-movers - Type: RateZip data page Summary: US cities ranked by median percent change in estimated home value, matched property-by-property across RateZip's tracked-property refreshes, with the biggest risers and decliners and change since purchase. ## RateZip Press & Media URL: https://www.ratezip.com/press - Type: newsroom hub Summary: RateZip newsroom: company press releases, data-backed commentary for working press, media contact, and third-party coverage. Peklava LLC DBA RateZip, NMLS ID 1592292. ## RateZip Launches Live US Bank Rate and Mortgage Rate App in ChatGPT URL: https://www.ratezip.com/press/ratezip-launches-live-us-bank-rate-and-mortgage-rate-app-in-chatgpt - Type: company press release - Published: 2026-09-01T08:00:00-04:00 - Wire record: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ratezip-launches-live-us-bank-rate-and-mortgage-rate-app-in-chatgpt-302865391.html Summary: RateZip Deposit/Mortgage Rates in the ChatGPT app directory: live US savings, CD, mortgage, and HELOC rates with a source and timestamp on every number. Content excerpt: NEW YORK, Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- RateZip, an independent US consumer rates platform, today launched RateZip Deposit/Mortgage Rates in the ChatGPT app directory. RateZip Deposit/Mortgage Rates is a live rate service that lets ChatGPT answer questions about current US savings account, certificate of deposit (CD), mortgage, and home equity line of credit (HELOC) rates, with the source and observation time attached to every figure. To RateZip's knowledge, it is the first US-focused Model Context Protocol (MCP) service dedicated to consumer deposit-rate comparison. Try it out here. What can I ask it? Questions such as "What's the best high-yield savings account rate right now?", "What are current 30-year mortgage rates?", or "Is my loan amount conforming or jumbo?" return interactive rate cards inside ChatGPT. These cards are sortable, timestamped, and each carry a link to the institution that published the rate. Coverage spans high-yield savings accounts, certificates of deposit, mortgage rates and annual percentage rates (APRs) including conforming and jumbo, home equity loans, and HELOCs. Why is this different from asking an AI chatbot about rates? A chatbot answering from training data guesses at rates that may be months stale. RateZip Deposit/Mortgage Rates returns the rate an institution currently publishes, observed at a stated moment, with any conditions attached. Enter a balance and it resolves the account's actual balance tier, showing the annual percentage yield (APY) a saver would really earn rather than a headline rate that applies only above a threshold. How large is the gap between the best and average savings rates? According to RateZip's rate index, as of August 26, 2026, a handful of outlier banks still pay around 4.00% APY — more than ten times the FDIC national average of 0.38%. On a $25,000 balance, that gap is roughly $905 a year. (Illustrative annualized figure; excludes taxes, balance tiers, and future rate changes. Methodology at ratezip.com/methodology.) "Consumers are starting to ask AI assistants what to do with their money, and they deserve a factual answer with a timestamp and a source, … ## 15-Year vs. 30-Year Mortgage: Which Saves You More in 2026? URL: https://www.ratezip.com/15-year-vs-30-year-mortgage-56523 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-12-26T09:00:10+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage - Tags: 15-year mortgage, 30-year mortgage, mortgage comparison Summary: On a $400,000 loan at 2026 rates, the 15-year costs about $793 more a month and saves roughly $312,000 in interest. The real comparison, the flexibility argument, and the pay-like-a-15 middle path. Content excerpt: The 30-year fixed is America's default mortgage for a reason: it makes the payment manageable. The 15-year fixed is the perennial challenger for a different reason: it makes the loan cheap. Choosing between them is really a choice about what you want your monthly budget — and the next decade and a half — to look like. The trade, in real numbers Two things favor the 15-year: you borrow the money for half as long, and lenders charge less for it — 15-year rates typically run well over half a percentage point below 30-year rates. With posted 30-year rates clustered in the mid-6s in early September 2026, here is the trade on a $400,000 loan, using 6.5% for the 30-year and 5.75% for the 15-year as illustrative rates: 30-year at 6.5%: about $2,528 a month in principal and interest — and roughly $510,000 of total interest over the life of the loan. 15-year at 5.75%: about $3,322 a month — and roughly $198,000 of total interest. That is the whole bargain in two lines: about $793 more per month buys back roughly $312,000 in interest, plus outright ownership of your home fifteen years sooner. Interest genuinely costing something is what makes this comparison so much starker than it looked in the 3% era. The case for the 30-year anyway The 15-year's math only works if you can carry the payment through your worst year, not your best one. The 30-year's lower obligation is a form of insurance: job loss, a new baby, a roof, a recession — the smaller required payment is easier to defend. And the difference can be put to work elsewhere. If you carry credit card debt at 20%-plus or have not filled tax-advantaged retirement space, those uses beat prepaying a 6.5% mortgage. A dollar of required payment is a commitment; a dollar of optional extra is a choice. The middle path: take the 30, pay it like a 15 Nothing stops you from taking the 30-year and sending the 15-year-sized payment anyway. Extra principal shortens the loan dramatically, and the moment life gets expensive you can drop back to the required payment with no penalty and no phone call. You will pay somewhat more than a true 15-year — the rate is higher, and most people's discipline leaks — but you keep the flexibility, … ## 2026 Loan Limits: Conforming Jumps to $832,750, FHA Floor to $541,287 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/2026-conforming-fha-loan-limits - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2026-07-17T09:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage - Tags: loan limits, fha, conforming, 2026 outlook Summary: FHFA raised the 2026 baseline conforming loan limit to $832,750 and the high-cost ceiling to $1,249,125. FHA's floor rose to $541,287. What the new limits mean for your purchase or refinance. Content excerpt: Every November, federal regulators reset the maximum loan sizes for government-backed mortgages, and the 2026 numbers are now in effect. If your target loan amount was just above last year's cutoffs, these increases may move you from jumbo pricing back into conventional territory. The 2026 numbers Conforming baseline (one-unit): $832,750, up $26,250 from 2025. This is the maximum Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will back in most U.S. counties. Conforming high-cost ceiling: $1,249,125 in designated high-cost areas such as much of coastal California, the New York metro, and Washington, D.C. FHA floor: $541,287 for single-family homes in low-cost counties, up from $524,225. FHA ceiling / HECM maximum claim amount: $1,249,125, effective for FHA case numbers assigned on or after January 1, 2026. The increases track home-price appreciation: the FHFA's index showed prices up 3.26% between the third quarters of 2024 and 2025, so the limits rose by the same percentage. The official announcements are on FHFA.gov and HUD.gov . Why the limits matter Conforming vs. jumbo pricing. Loans within conforming limits are eligible for purchase by Fannie and Freddie, which generally means broader lender competition and easier qualification than jumbo loans. A borrower who needed an $820,000 loan was jumbo in 2025 and is conforming in 2026 - same house, different rules. FHA reach. The higher FHA floor extends low-down-payment FHA financing to more of the market in typical-cost counties. FHA limits vary by county between the floor and ceiling, so check your county's exact figure before assuming. Reverse mortgages. The HECM maximum claim amount rising to $1,249,125 means owners of higher-value homes can base a reverse mortgage on more of their home's value. More on that in our complete reverse mortgage guide . Practical next steps If you shopped for a mortgage in late 2025 and priced as jumbo, it is worth re-quoting under the 2026 limits. And because lender pricing varies widely even within the same loan category, compare current offers side by side - start with today's rates and see rates in your state . ## 2026 Retirement Limits: 401(k) Rises to $24,500, IRA to $7,500 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/2026-retirement-contribution-limits - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2026-06-24T09:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Savings - Tags: retirement, 401k, ira, irs limits Summary: The IRS raised 2026 contribution limits: $24,500 for 401(k)s ($32,500 with catch-up), $7,500 for IRAs, and expanded Roth income phase-outs. The numbers, the super catch-up, and how to use them. Content excerpt: The IRS's annual inflation adjustments gave retirement savers more room in 2026. The headline numbers, straight from the IRS announcement : 401(k), 403(b), and most 457 plans: $24,500 in employee deferrals, up from $23,500 in 2025. Catch-up (age 50+): an additional $8,000, for a $32,500 total. Super catch-up (ages 60-63): $11,250 instead of the standard catch-up, under SECURE 2.0. Combined employee + employer 401(k) limit: $72,000. IRA (traditional and Roth): $7,500, up from $7,000. The IRA catch-up rises to $1,100, so savers 50 and older can put in $8,600. Roth IRA income phase-out: $153,000-$168,000 for single filers; $242,000-$252,000 for married filing jointly. Three ways to actually use the increase 1. Re-run your payroll percentage. Most people set a contribution percentage once and forget it. Hitting the new $24,500 cap requires roughly $2,042 a month; if you were maxing 2025's limit on autopilot, you are now leaving $1,000 of tax-advantaged space unused. 2. The 60-63 window is unusually generous. Four years at $11,250 catch-up on top of the base limit - $35,750 a year of deferrals - is a late-career accumulation tool that did not exist a few years ago. If retirement is close and savings are behind, these are the years that move the needle. 3. Mind the phase-outs before backdooring. If your income lands inside the Roth phase-out band, a direct Roth contribution partially or fully closes. Know where you sit before contributing in January rather than unwinding excess contributions in April. Contribution limits are one lever; where the money sits is the other. Cash you are holding short-term deserves a competitive yield too - see current savings and CD rates and our broader retirement saving guide . ## 3 Money Mistakes That Hurt Your Credit Score URL: https://www.ratezip.com/3-money-mistakes-that-hurt-your-credit-score-80609 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-09-26T09:00:04+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Credit - Tags: credit score, credit utilization, credit history Summary: Payment history and amounts owed drive 65% of your FICO score. The three habits that do the most damage — and the fix for each, from autopay to secured cards. Content excerpt: Some money mistakes cost you a late fee. A few quietly follow you for years — and your credit score, the number between 300 and 850 that sets the price you pay on every mortgage, car loan and card, is where they show up. The formula is not a mystery: payment history counts for 35% of a FICO score, amounts owed 30%, length of credit history 15%, and new credit and credit mix 10% each. Which means the three mistakes below, touching 80% of the formula between them, do most of the damage. Mistake #1: Paying bills late The largest single slice of your score — 35% — is your record of paying on time. A late payment here and there feels minor, but the marks accumulate, and a strong payment history is slow to build and quick to dent. The fix is structural, not motivational: put every account on autopay for at least the minimum, then pay the rest manually when you review the statement. A payment that cannot be forgotten is a payment that cannot go late — no excuses required, because the system does the remembering. And if a bill does slip through, pay it the moment you notice: the further past due a payment goes, the more damage it does. Mistake #2: Charging up your credit cards The second-largest slice — 30% — is amounts owed, and for most people that means credit utilization : the share of your available credit you are actually using. The guidance is simple: keep utilization below 30% of your limits, and lower is better still. High balances drag on your score even when every payment arrives on time, which surprises a lot of diligent people. So watch the ratio, not just the due date — and if you are carrying balances at 2026 card rates, paying them down does double duty, cutting interest and lifting your score at once. The playbook for that is in our credit card APR escape plan . Mistake #3: Avoiding credit entirely Plenty of careful people swear off credit cards and loans on principle — then discover the caution has a cost. Length of credit history is 15% of your score, and you cannot build history you never start; a thin file can hold you back almost as much as a blemished one when it is time for an apartment, a car loan or a mortgage. … ## 3 Reasons You Shouldn't Co-Sign a Loan (and What to Do Instead) URL: https://www.ratezip.com/3-reasons-you-shouldnt-co-sign-a-loan-98866 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-11-01T12:54:40+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T16:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Loans - Tags: cosigning, loans, debt-to-income ratio Summary: A cosigner owes the whole loan, can be pursued first, carries it on their credit report and counts it in their own mortgage DTI. Three risks and better ways to help. Content excerpt: Helping someone you love get a loan feels generous and costs nothing up front, which is exactly why cosigning is so easy to say yes to. The borrower gets the car, the apartment or the tuition; you sign a form. But a cosigner is not a character reference. You are a full borrower on paper, the lender treats you as one, and the arrangement is very hard to undo. Here are the three reasons to think hard before you sign, and what to offer instead. 1. You owe the whole debt, and the lender can come to you first The Federal Trade Commission's consumer guidance puts it plainly: a cosigner is liable for the full amount of the debt plus any late fees or collection costs, and the lender can collect from the cosigner without first pursuing the borrower. Lenders must give you a "Notice to Cosigner" before you sign that spells this out; read it as a description of what will happen, not a formality. In practice it means a missed payment can become your bill, fees included, before you have heard a word from the borrower. Ask yourself why the lender wanted a cosigner. Usually it is because the borrower's credit or income did not support the loan alone, and the lender was not willing to take that risk by itself. The price of that risk is steep. In the first quarter of 2026, auto lenders charged subprime borrowers (VantageScore 501 to 600) an average of 13.44% on new-car loans and 19.42% on used, against 4.55% and 6.30% for super-prime borrowers. A cosigner with strong credit moves the loan into the cheaper tier, which is the whole appeal, but the borrower's ability to pay did not change. You are lending the lender your score. 2. Your credit report carries the loan, good or bad A cosigned loan appears on your credit report as your obligation. When the borrower pays on time, it helps you a little. When they pay late, the late payment posts to your file as well, and payment history is 35% of a FICO score. The dangerous part is the lag: borrowers who are struggling often do not tell the person who vouched for them, so the first you hear of it may be a collection call after several missed payments, by which point the damage to your score is done. … ## 3 Signs a Mortgage Is Too Expensive for Your Budget URL: https://www.ratezip.com/3-signs-mortgage-expensive-budget - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-06-20T09:00:35+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage - Tags: mortgage affordability, home buying, budgeting Summary: Approval is not affordability. Three red flags that a mortgage will swamp your budget in 2026, including the stretch products that hide the real payment. Content excerpt: Lenders will often approve you for more mortgage than you can comfortably carry. That has always been true, but the pressure in 2026 comes from a different place than it did in the loose-lending years: with the median existing home selling for about $429,300 in mid-2026 and 30-year rates in the mid-6s, plenty of buyers are stretching not out of greed but because the math of even a modest house demands it. That makes the discipline harder — and more important. An approval letter tells you what a lender will risk, not what your budget can absorb. Here are three signs the mortgage in front of you is too expensive, no matter what the preapproval says. 1. The payment only works if everything goes right Run the full monthly number — principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and any HOA dues — against your actual take-home pay. If your honest reaction is "it will be close, but we can make it work," that is the sign. An affordable payment is one you can make comfortably in an ordinary month, not one that requires the best-case version of the month. The old 28/36 guideline is still a useful screen: housing costs at or under 28% of gross monthly income, and all debt payments combined under 36%. Lenders can and do approve beyond those lines; the guideline exists to protect you, not them. For a fuller walk through the arithmetic, see how much house you can actually handle . 2. One setback would put the payment in danger Ask what happens if the transmission dies, your hours get cut, or a medical bill lands. If any single ordinary setback would leave you scrambling to make the mortgage, the mortgage is too big. Homeownership manufactures its own emergencies — roofs, water heaters, furnaces — on top of life's usual ones. You should be able to carry the payment through at least a couple of bad months without panic, which is as much a savings question as a mortgage-size question. If buying at this price would drain your cushion entirely, that is the same red flag in different clothes — our guide to how much emergency fund you really need covers where that line sits. 3. You need "creative financing" to afford it This red flag has been renamed since the pre-crisis era, … ## 5 Sneaky Reasons Your Car Insurance Went Up — Even With a Clean Driving Record URL: https://www.ratezip.com/3-strange-reasons-car-insurance-go-87229 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-01-14T09:00:12+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Insurance Rates - Tags: auto insurance, car insurance rates, insurance shopping Summary: No tickets, no accidents, higher premium anyway? Address changes, neighborhood claims, credit-based scores, repair-cost inflation and carrier-wide rate filings can all move your bill — and 2026's cooling market is the moment to fight back. Content excerpt: Few pieces of mail are as quietly infuriating as a car insurance renewal that jumped while your driving record stayed spotless. Drivers spent the mid-2020s learning this feeling in bulk: premiums surged about 17% in 2024 before actually falling during 2025, and 2026 is shaping up roughly flat — with full-coverage policies averaging in the $2,300s a year. If your bill went up and you did nothing wrong, one of these five things probably did it. 1. You moved — even a few miles Insurers price heavily on where the car sleeps at night. Cross into a ZIP code with more break-ins, denser traffic or higher storm exposure and your premium follows, even when the new place is a clear upgrade for you. A move that changes your commute — longer, or into heavier traffic — compounds it. There is no fixing this one, but it is a reason to re-shop rather than auto-renew after any move: carriers weight territory differently, and the company that was cheapest at your old address is often not cheapest at the new one. 2. Your neighbors had a bad year Rating territories rise and fall on the claims everyone around you files. A spike in local accidents, a hailstorm, a rash of catalytic-converter thefts — the losses show up spread across every policy in the area, including yours. You cannot control it, which is exactly why it feels unfair; it is also one of the most common answers to "but nothing about me changed." 3. Your credit-based insurance score slipped In most states, insurers use a credit-based insurance score — built from your credit history — as a pricing factor, and studies persuade them it predicts claims. A rough patch on your credit can therefore surface on your insurance bill months later. A handful of states, including California, Hawaii and Massachusetts, ban or sharply restrict the practice; everywhere else, the same habits that protect your credit score — on-time payments, low card balances — quietly protect your premium too. 4. Your car got more expensive to fix — every car did Much of the mid-2020s premium surge was not about drivers at all. Parts, labor and used-car replacement values all inflated, … ## 3 Types of Insurance You Can Cancel If You Have a Big Emergency Fund (and One You Never Should) URL: https://www.ratezip.com/3-types-insurance-can-cancel-big-emergency-fund-45339 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-12-18T09:00:43+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Insurance Rates - Tags: emergency fund, disability insurance, collision coverage, pet insurance Summary: A big emergency fund lets you self-insure. Short-term disability, collision on an old car and pet insurance are candidates, with caveats. One policy never goes. Content excerpt: Insurance is a trade: you pay a small, certain amount so that someone else absorbs a large, uncertain one. When the large amount is something you could write a check for without flinching, the trade stops making sense, because every premium includes the insurer's overhead and profit on top of the expected claims. That is the real payoff of a big emergency fund. It does not just cover surprises; it lets you stop paying other people to cover the surprises you can handle yourself. "Big" is doing a lot of work in that sentence. The fund has to absorb the worst realistic loss and still leave a cushion for the next emergency, because emergencies do not take turns. How much that is, and where to keep it earning something in 2026, is covered in How Much Do You Really Need in an Emergency Fund . With that in place, three policies become genuinely optional. Each comes with caveats the original version of this advice skipped. 1. Short-term disability insurance Short-term disability replaces part of your paycheck for a limited stretch, typically while you recover from surgery, an injury or a difficult pregnancy. If your savings could carry the household through that stretch, you are paying premiums for a check you could write yourself. The caveats: Check who is paying for it. Many employers provide short-term disability at no cost to you, and a handful of states run mandatory disability or paid-leave programs funded by payroll deductions. In either case there is nothing to cancel and no premium to save. Know your long-term policy's waiting period. Long-term disability coverage usually starts paying only after an elimination period of several months. Short-term coverage is designed to bridge that gap. Self-insuring it means your fund must cover the entire waiting period, not just a few weeks. Never confuse it with long-term disability. A disability that lasts years is not an emergency-fund-sized problem; it is a lost-career-sized problem. Long-term disability stays on the never-cancel list no matter how much you have saved. 2. Collision coverage on an older car Collision pays to repair or replace your own car after a crash, minus your deductible, … ## PIP, Gap and Uninsured Motorist Coverage, Explained URL: https://www.ratezip.com/3-types-of-car-insurance-you-might-not-understand-39933 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-10-16T09:00:37+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Insurance Rates - Tags: car insurance, gap insurance, uninsured motorist Summary: What PIP actually pays, why gap coverage costs $20–40 a year from your insurer vs. hundreds at the dealer, and the two kinds of uninsured motorist coverage. Content excerpt: Liability, collision, comprehensive — most drivers can at least gesture at what the big three cover. It is the line items further down the quote that cause trouble: coverages people buy without understanding, or decline without knowing what they just gave up. Here are the three most misunderstood, and how to decide whether each belongs on your policy. Personal injury protection (PIP) Personal injury protection pays medical bills for you and your passengers after an accident, no matter who caused it. In many states it also covers costs health insurance will not touch, such as lost wages or help with household tasks while you recover. What people get wrong: PIP is not a nationwide add-on you either bought or skipped. It is required in no-fault states, optional in a few others, and simply not sold in the rest. Where it is optional, the decision mostly turns on your health coverage: a strong health plan already handles the medical side, while a high-deductible plan — or frequent passengers whose insurance you cannot vouch for — makes PIP worth a closer look. Gap coverage Cars depreciate faster than most loans amortize, so early in a financed purchase you can owe more than the car is worth. If the car is totaled or stolen during that stretch, standard coverage pays the car's market value — and whatever loan balance sits above that value stays yours. Gap coverage pays the difference. What people get wrong: the price. Gap has a reputation as an expensive extra, and bought in the dealer's finance office it is: a flat $400–$700 charge, often rolled into the loan so you pay interest on it. Added to your own auto policy instead, the same protection typically runs about $20–$40 a year at major insurers. Gap has also become more relevant, not less. With used-car prices still elevated and loan terms stretching ever longer, plenty of borrowers in 2026 drive off the lot owing more than the car is worth and stay that way for years — especially after financing with little or nothing down. If that is you, price gap through your insurer first, and drop it the day your loan balance falls below the car's value. Better yet, … ## 3 Ways to Pay for Home Renovations in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/3-ways-to-afford-that-fixer-upper-44001 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-08-12T09:00:16+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Loans - Tags: home renovation, HELOC, home equity loan Summary: Locked-in low mortgage rates and record home equity make 2026 the renovate-don't-move year. How savings, home equity, and renovation mortgages stack up. Content excerpt: The honest version of the fixer-upper conversation in 2026 is mostly not about hunting for a bargain house to transform. It is about the house you already own. Homeowners holding mortgages locked at pandemic-era rates — far below the mid-6% loans lenders quote in 2026 — have little appetite to move and surrender that rate, so they stay and renovate instead. And the means are there: American homeowners collectively sit on roughly $34.5 trillion in home equity, an average of about $302,000 each. The real question is rarely whether a project can be funded but which route costs least. Three cover almost every case. 1. Cash and earmarked savings Slowest, safest, and for small and mid-sized projects usually smartest. A dedicated account keeps renovation money from leaking into the rest of your budget, and waiting finally pays: parked in a high-yield savings account, a kitchen fund can earn around 4% in 2026 while you collect contractor bids. Automate a transfer every payday and name the account after the project — financing with no interest, no lien, and no approval process. For a small job you can pay off quickly, a credit card with an interest-free introductory window can play the same role — but only if the balance is truly gone before the promotional clock runs out, because at ordinary 2026 card rates a lingering balance gets expensive fast. 2. A HELOC or home-equity loan For bigger jobs, the house itself is usually the cheapest collateral you have. A home-equity line of credit lets you draw money as the contractor bills you, which fits renovations that unfold in stages; a home-equity loan delivers one lump sum at a fixed rate, which fits a single bid with a known price. HELOC rates averaged about 7.25% in mid-2026, and lenders generally allow combined borrowing — existing mortgage plus the new loan — up to 80–85% of the home's value. Two cautions. First, this second-loan route usually beats a cash-out refinance in 2026 for the same lock-in reason people renovate at all: a cash-out refi replaces your entire mortgage at today's pricing, surrendering the cheap rate that made staying put attractive. Second, … ## 30 Important Things to Do Before You Turn 30 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/30-important-things-to-do-before-you-turn-30 - Type: article - Author: LeeAnn Reynolds - Published: 2022-04-25T14:09:04+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Featured, Savings - Tags: money milestones, personal finance, your 20s Summary: Credit, retirement, an emergency fund — plus tattoos, travel, and saying no. Thirty things to do in your 20s, refreshed with 2026 numbers. Content excerpt: Your 20s are for having fun, launching a career, and making memories that will last a lifetime. They are also the foundation for the rest of your adult life — the decade where good habits are cheapest to start and compound the longest. With that in mind, here are thirty things worth doing before you turn 30: some for your wallet, some for your soul, and a few just for the story. 1. Improve Your Credit Score Your credit score shapes your ability to get a mortgage, qualify for personal and auto loans, and can even be checked by landlords and some employers. The recipe is not a secret: pay every account on time (payment history is the biggest single slice of a FICO score, at 35%) and keep your card balances below 30% of your limits — lower is better. You can check your reports from all three bureaus free every week at AnnualCreditReport.com. No credit history yet? A starter or secured card, used lightly and paid in full, builds one. 2. Change Up Your Look Always wanted to try a different hairstyle, get a tattoo, or overhaul your wardrobe? Take the chance at least once in your 20s — whether it is something small, like a new nail color, or dramatic, like a whole new style. You may be surprised how much the new look feels like you, and if nothing else, it will give you something to point at in old photos. 3. Save for Retirement Retirement feels like a lifetime away, which is exactly why money saved now works so hard — it has the most years to grow. If your employer matches 401(k) contributions, capture every dollar of the match; it is part of your pay. For 2026 you can put up to $24,500 into a 401(k) and $7,500 into an IRA — nobody expects you to hit those caps in your 20s, but they show how much room the accounts give you as your income grows. The full rundown is in this year's contribution limits . Start with any amount; just start. 4. Learn to Cook Not everyone grows up learning to cook, but your 20s are the decade to fix that. You do not need a repertoire — master two or three actual meals (with protein and vegetables, so instant ramen and boxed mac and cheese do not count). Cooking is an impressive and often enjoyable skill, … ## 4 Insurance Policies You Should Have in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/4-insurance-policies-you-should-have-58248 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-10-07T09:00:53+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Insurance Rates - Tags: insurance basics, auto insurance, health insurance, life insurance Summary: What homeowners or renters, auto, health and life insurance each really protect, why New Hampshire is the lone auto-coverage holdout, and how to size term life. Content excerpt: Insurance premiums feel like money spent on nothing happening. That is exactly the point. A policy is a bet you hope to lose, placed against a loss you could not absorb on your own. The trick is to insure catastrophes, self-insure inconveniences, and know which is which. Four policies cover the losses that would wreck most household budgets; here is what each one actually does in 2026, and where the fine print bites. 1. Homeowners or renters insurance For most families the house is the largest asset they own and the largest debt they carry, and a fire or a fallen tree threatens both at once. A homeowners policy has three jobs: rebuild or repair the structure, replace what was inside it, and defend you if someone is hurt on the property and sues. Read the dwelling limit against what it would cost to rebuild today, not what you paid, and know whether contents are covered at replacement cost or at depreciated value; on a ten-year-old sofa, that is the difference between a new sofa and a small check. Flood and earthquake are typically excluded and need separate policies. Renting does not get you off the hook. Your landlord's policy covers the building and stops at your door; everything on your side of it, from the laptop to the couch, is yours to replace. Renters insurance also carries liability coverage, which matters the day your overflowing bathtub ruins the ceiling below you. Relative to what it protects, it is usually cheap. If you own, the levers that lower the premium without gutting the coverage are in our guide to saving on homeowners insurance . 2. Auto insurance The old line that every state requires auto insurance is almost true. New Hampshire is the lone exception: it has no mandatory auto-liability law. Virginia, the other longtime holdout, made coverage mandatory on July 1, 2024, when it eliminated its uninsured-motor-vehicle fee. Even in New Hampshire you remain financially responsible for damage you cause, so "not required" is not the same as "not needed." The legal minimum is liability coverage, which pays for other people's injuries and property. It does nothing for your own car. Collision (your car in a crash) and comprehensive (theft, hail, … ## 4 Reasons You May Want to Keep Renting in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/4-reasons-may-want-keep-renting-68545 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-02-17T09:00:48+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Real Estate - Tags: rent vs buy, renting, home buying, housing costs Summary: Mid-6s mortgage rates, a six-year national breakeven, 4% savings yields and ownership costs that outrun the mortgage: the honest case for renting a while longer. Content excerpt: Owning a home is still treated as the finish line of adulthood, and renting as the waiting room. The 2026 numbers do not support that neatly. With the 30-year fixed in the mid-6s, the median existing home around $429,300, and top savings accounts paying around 4%, renting is not just what you do until you can buy. For a lot of households it is the better financial answer for the next few years. Here are four reasons why. 1. Renting keeps your options open, and options are worth money What happens if your job relocates you, the layoff comes, or the right offer arrives from another state? A renter gives notice or pays a lease-break fee. An owner sells a house, and selling is slow and expensive: you paid closing costs of typically 2% to 5% of the loan amount on the way in, and you will pay commissions and fees on the way out. That is why buying only wins if you stay put. Zillow's June 2026 analysis puts the national breakeven, the point where buying beats renting, at about six years, and in the most expensive coastal metros at 16 to 23 years. In San Francisco and San Jose, buying does not beat renting within 30 years. If you cannot see six years ahead in one place, renting is the cheaper bet, not the timid one. 2. You do not need 20% down, but the money is doing real work where it is The old version of this argument was that saving 20% takes forever. That premise is gone: FHA loans need 3.5% down with a 580 credit score, and conventional programs allow as little as 3% for many buyers. Twenty percent down only avoids private mortgage insurance; it was never the price of admission. The down payment is no longer the wall it was. Two things still are. First, a small down payment means a big loan at a mid-6s rate. On a $429,300 home at 6.5%, 3% down means a loan of about $416,000 and a principal-and-interest payment of about $2,632 a month, before property taxes, insurance and the mortgage insurance that comes with putting down less than 20%. Second, the cash you would hand over is earning something for the first time in years. Top high-yield savings accounts pay around 4% in 2026 and the best CDs 4.3% to 4.5%, and that money stays liquid. … ## 4 Signs You're Ready to Buy a Home in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/4-signs-youre-ready-to-buy-a-home-73135 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-12-06T17:24:39+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage - Tags: home buying readiness, first-time home buyer, down payment, debt-to-income ratio Summary: Steady, documentable income, a horizon past the six-year breakeven, debt under control, and cash for more than the down payment. The 2026 readiness test. Content excerpt: The median first-time buyer in NAR's 2025 profile was 40 years old, and first-time buyers were just 21% of the market, a record low. That is not because people stopped wanting homes. With the 30-year fixed in the mid-6s and the median existing home around $429,300 in mid-2026, the bar for being ready is simply higher than it was, and the cost of getting it wrong is a payment that follows you for decades. Here are the four signs that say you are actually ready, updated for what lenders and the market look like now. 1. Your income is steady, and you can prove it A mortgage is a promise to make the same payment through your best years and your worst ones, so the first test is whether your income can be counted on. Lenders apply that test literally. Conventional underwriting looks at your most recent two years of employment; a two-year history for each income source is the standard, though income received for a shorter period, but no less than 12 months, can be considered when the lender can justify it. Gaps in the past 12 months have to be explained, and any income with a known end date, such as a contract or a benefit, must be expected to continue for at least three years. The readiness question behind the underwriting question is simpler: if your household lost one paycheck, could you still make the payment for a few months while you replaced it? If the honest answer is no, you are not ready yet, whatever the pre-approval says. 2. You plan to stay long enough for buying to beat renting Buying costs money on the way in and the way out. Closing costs typically run 2% to 5% of the loan amount, and selling later means commissions and another round of fees. Those costs only make sense if you hold the home long enough for equity and appreciation to outrun them. Zillow's June 2026 analysis puts that breakeven at about six years nationally, down from 8.4 years in October 2023, but the range is enormous: around four years in the fastest metros, 16 to 23 years in the most expensive coastal markets, and in San Francisco and San Jose buying does not beat renting within 30 years at all. So the second sign is a horizon, not a feeling. … ## 4 Tactics to Negotiate a Car Deal That Actually Work in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/4-tactics-to-negotiate-a-car-deal-that-actually-work-48194 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-03-05T09:00:27+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Auto Loans - Tags: car buying, negotiating a car deal, auto loans Summary: Written out-the-door quotes, loyalty and conquest bonuses, the Costco program used right, and a pre-approval in hand: four car-buying tactics that work in 2026. Content excerpt: Buying a car means solving two problems at once: finding something safe and reliable that you actually like, and paying a fair price for it without being worn down by a process designed to wear you down. The first problem is yours. The second has a playbook. These four tactics work because they take the negotiation out of the showroom and put it on paper, where a dealer's advantages shrink. 1) Get the out-the-door price in writing before you visit The number posted online is usually the most competitive one a dealer will show, but it is not what you will pay, and no rule says the dealer "has to honor it." Documentation fees, dealer add-ons, "market adjustments" and mandatory accessory packages can add thousands between the listing and the contract. In March 2026 the Federal Trade Commission sent warning letters to 97 dealer groups reminding them that an advertised price must include mandatory fees. Your defense is simple: email several dealers for an out-the-door quote — vehicle price, every fee, taxes and any add-ons itemized — and negotiate only from that document. If a dealer will not put the full number in writing, the number is not real. 2) Ask for loyalty and conquest bonuses Manufacturers still pay dealers to keep their customers and to poach the competition's. A loyalty bonus is for buyers who already own the brand; a conquest bonus (the older term was "competitor bonus") is for buyers switching from a rival make. Neither is advertised on the windshield and neither is offered unless you ask, so ask, and ask what other manufacturer incentives apply to the exact vehicle you are buying. Amounts vary by brand, model and month, so treat them as a question rather than an expectation. 3) Use the Costco program as a floor, not a finish line The Costco Auto Program, free with a membership, connects members to participating dealers that have agreed to prearranged member pricing. Note the words: prearranged pricing, not "below invoice," which is how this benefit is often (wrongly) described. Costco cites average savings of about $1,000, and the real value is that it removes the haggle for people who hate haggling. … ## 4 Tips for Refinancing Your Home in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/4-tips-for-refinancing-your-home-31404 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-08-27T09:30:36+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage - Tags: refinance, mortgage rates, home equity Summary: Locked in near the 2023 peak? Four steps before you refinance: free weekly credit reports, your real LTV, the documents lenders want, and the costs to expect. Content excerpt: If you took your mortgage when rates were near their October 2023 peak — brushing 8% — 2026 has put refinancing back on the table: the 30-year fixed has spent the year in the mid-6s, and February's brief dip to 5.98% showed how quickly a window can open. Just be clear-eyed about what you are signing up for. A refinance is a full mortgage application, with the same underwriting, appraisal, and paperwork gauntlet as the original loan. Whether it is worth doing at all is its own question — our guide to whether you should refinance in 2026 covers that. These four tips are about doing it well once you decide to move. 1. Check your credit — it is free now The lender's first stop is your credit, so make it your first stop too. You can pull your reports from all three bureaus free every week at AnnualCreditReport.com — a permanent entitlement, no purchase required — and most card issuers and banks now show you a credit score free as well. The old advice to pay for a look at your own file is dead. Read the reports for errors and dispute anything wrong before you apply, because your score is one of the biggest levers on the rate you will be offered — here is what lenders look for when setting your rate . If the score is soft, a few months of on-time payments and paid-down balances can be worth real money on a loan this size. 2. Know your home's value — and your equity Most refinances require an appraisal, and the loan-to-value ratio it produces shapes everything: keep the new loan at or below 80% of the home's value and a conventional refinance gets done without private mortgage insurance. The good news is that years of rising values have done much of the work — the average homeowner was sitting on roughly $302,000 of equity by mid-2026 — so your ratio is probably far better than it was the day you bought. If your equity is thinner or your income is stretched, do not assume you are stuck. The crisis-era HARP program ended back in 2018, but it has active 2026 successors for loans owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac: Fannie's RefiNow and Freddie's Refi Possible. Both are aimed at borrowers earning no more than their area's median income, … ## How to Save on Homeowners Insurance in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/4-tips-for-saving-money-on-your-homeowners-insurance-24685 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-12-16T09:00:57+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Insurance Rates - Tags: homeowners insurance, insurance savings, FAIR plans Summary: The classic levers still work — bundling, deductibles, credit — but 2026 adds new ones: mitigation credits, annual re-shopping, and FAIR plan backstops. Content excerpt: Homeowners insurance used to be the bill you set up at closing and forgot. In 2026 it is one of the fastest-moving line items in a household budget: after years of heavy storm and wildfire losses, carriers are re-underwriting entire regions, declining to renew longtime customers, and repricing risk almost street by street. That is rough news for premiums, but it also means the set-it-and-forget-it approach leaves real money on the table. The classic discounts still work — and a few newer levers now matter more. Re-shop the policy every year Loyalty is worth less than it used to be. Because insurers are re-evaluating whole territories at once, the carrier that offered the best deal when you bought the house may no longer want your ZIP code at any price — while a competitor expanding in your area may quote it aggressively. Set a reminder for a month before each renewal and collect at least three quotes on identical coverage. If your renewal arrives with a sharp increase, that is often a portfolio decision about your region, not a verdict on your house — and the fix is shopping, not sighing and paying. Raise your deductible — and understand the percentage kind Taking a higher deductible remains the most reliable way to cut a premium: you keep protection against the catastrophe and give up first-dollar coverage you should rarely use anyway, since small claims can cost you discounts later. Read the declarations page closely, though. In many areas, wind, hail, or hurricane damage now carries its own deductible — often calculated as a percentage of your dwelling coverage rather than a flat dollar figure, which can make it far larger than the number you remember choosing. Know exactly what you would owe after a storm, and keep an emergency fund that can actually cover it. Earn mitigation credits Insurers discount what provably prevents claims. Depending on the carrier and state, that can include an impact-resistant or newly replaced roof, water leak sensors that shut off the supply line, monitored burglar and fire alarms, storm shutters, and updated electrical, plumbing, and heating systems. Two habits make this pay. First, … ## 5 Credit Tips (Not) to Take in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/5-credit-tips-not-to-take-42345 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-09-24T09:00:04+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T16:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Credit - Tags: credit score, credit myths, collections Summary: Five popular credit tips that backfire: closing old cards, carrying a balance, skipping collections, avoiding credit, and waiting out old debts. What 2026 scoring rewards. Content excerpt: Search for ways to raise a credit score and you will find the same handful of tips repeated everywhere, some of them for a decade or more. A few were never true. Others were true under older scoring models and quietly stopped being true. All of them share a flaw: they treat the score as something to be gamed rather than something that follows from how you actually use credit. Here are five popular pieces of advice, what each gets wrong, and what to do instead. Tip 1: "Close the cards you don't use to clean up your file" The theory: fewer open accounts looks tidier and more responsible to a lender. The truth: closing a card in good standing does nothing to shorten your credit history. Closed accounts stay on your report for up to ten years and keep counting toward the age of your file the whole time. What closing does do is delete that card's limit from your available credit, so the same balances on your other cards suddenly represent a larger share of a smaller total. Amounts owed make up 30% of a FICO score, and utilization is the fastest-moving part of that factor, so a tidy-up can cost you points overnight. Do instead: keep no-annual-fee cards open with one small recurring charge on each, paid in full. If a card carries a fee you no longer want, ask the issuer for a no-fee product change before you close it. When closing really is the right call, do it in the right order . Tip 2: "Carry a small balance so the card shows activity" The theory: a card that always reads zero is not helping you, so leave a little owed each month. The truth: scoring models reward on-time payments and low utilization, and neither requires you to pay interest. The balance that reaches your credit report is generally the one on your statement, so using the card and then paying the statement in full shows activity without a finance charge. Paying interest to build credit is the most expensive myth on this list: the average APR on card accounts that carried a balance was 22.15% in the second quarter of 2026, and many new offers run above 25%. Do instead: use the card for normal spending, keep the reported balance under 30% of the limit (lower is better), … ## 5 Ways Taking Control of Your Finances Can Save (or Earn) You Money URL: https://www.ratezip.com/5-ways-taking-control-of-your-finances-can-save-or-earn-you-money - Type: article - Author: LeeAnn Reynolds - Published: 2022-07-25T19:49:23+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Banking, Featured, Savings - Tags: personal finance, debt consolidation, high-yield savings Summary: Refinancing a 2023-peak mortgage, consolidating 22% card debt, re-shopping insurance, and 4% savings yields — five money moves that pay in 2026. Content excerpt: Being good with money is not about loving spreadsheets. It is about a handful of decisions that quietly move real dollars — what you pay to borrow, what you earn on savings, what you hand your insurer every month. Take control of those and your budget starts working for you instead of against you. Here are five places where a little attention pays off in 2026. 1. Get a Low Mortgage Rate For most homeowners the mortgage is the biggest monthly bill, which makes its rate the most valuable number you can shop. Posted 30-year rates have spent 2026 in the mid-6s, but lenders can sit surprisingly far apart on the very same morning — comparing several quotes is an hour of work that can be worth thousands over the life of the loan. See where rates stand on our mortgage rates page. Already have a mortgage? If you locked yours in near the 2023 peak, when rates brushed 8%, refinancing into the mid-6s can be real money: moving a $400,000 balance from 7.75% to 6.5% saves about $340 a month. Closing costs typically run 2%–5% of the loan amount, so check your break-even point before you sign — it is the one division problem that decides whether a refinance is smart or just satisfying. 2. Pay Off High-Interest Debt Not all debt costs the same. Credit cards that carry a balance averaged 22.15% APR in mid-2026, while a typical three-year personal loan runs around 13.4%. That gap is the whole case for consolidation: swap expensive revolving debt for one fixed payment at a lower rate, and every month costs less. Compare the main ways to consolidate before you choose, and mind origination fees, which run 1%–8% on many personal loans. One caution: rolling card debt into your mortgage turns unsecured debt into debt your home guarantees — cheaper on paper is not automatically safer. 3. Find Affordable Auto Insurance Auto insurance premiums surged about 17% in 2024, eased through 2025, and have run roughly flat in 2026 — yet full coverage still averages in the $2,300s a year, and loyal customers rarely get the best price. Re-shop your policy at renewal with identical coverage levels and deductibles so the comparison is honest, … ## 6 Fast Ways to Get Money Today URL: https://www.ratezip.com/6-fast-ways-to-get-money-today - Type: article - Author: LeeAnn Reynolds - Published: 2022-05-05T12:51:59+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Featured, Savings - Tags: emergency cash, personal loans, home equity Summary: Six honest ways to raise cash in a day — with the real costs spelled out — plus the slower home-equity routes and the fix that prevents the next scramble. Content excerpt: We have all been there — the air conditioner dies in the middle of a heat wave, the car will not start, the medical bill lands the week before payday. When you need cash fast, the options in front of you differ wildly in what they really cost, and the pressure of the moment is exactly when that is hardest to see. Here are six ways to get money in as little as a day, with an honest look at the price of each — plus two slower options for homeowners, and the fix that makes the next emergency boring. 1) Same-Day Personal Loans Many personal loan lenders can approve an application and send funds the same day or within a few hours, often for several thousand dollars — genuinely useful when the expense is large. Just know what speed costs. A typical three-year personal loan averages around 13.4% APR in 2026, origination fees run 1%–8%, and same-day convenience often prices toward the expensive end of whatever your credit qualifies you for. Two rules keep this option sane: compare more than one offer even under time pressure — see where personal loan rates stand — and treat any offer priced several times above mainstream personal-loan territory as a hard no, whatever it calls itself. 2) Ask Friends and Family A loved one is often the fastest, cheapest lender you will ever have — and the most expensive relationship to damage. If you borrow from friends or family, make the terms boring and explicit up front: Is this a loan or a gift? When and how will you repay it, and is anything extra expected? Even a two-line note you both keep removes the ambiguity that curdles into resentment. And remember that they are allowed to say no — their finances may be tighter than they look, and they owe you nothing. Sometimes protecting the relationship means not asking at all. 3) Visit a Pawn Shop A pawnbroker will hand you cash today against something of value — jewelry, electronics, instruments, tools — with no credit check, and the loan never touches your credit report even if you walk away. Be clear-eyed about the price, though: between the interest and the fees, pawn loans rank among the most expensive ways to borrow there are, far above what mainstream lenders charge. … ## A Brief History of FICO, 1956 to 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/a-brief-history-of-fico-37488 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-10-22T09:00:04+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Credit - Tags: FICO, credit scoring, credit history Summary: From Bill Fair and Earl Isaac in 1956 to the first FICO score in 1989, the 2003 rename, and the 2026 arrival of FICO 10T, VantageScore 4.0 and UltraFICO in mortgage lending. Content excerpt: Every time you check your credit score you are reading the output of a company founded in 1956 by an engineer, Bill Fair, and a mathematician, Earl Isaac, who met at the Stanford Research Institute. The system they started has plenty of critics. It is also a vast improvement on what came before it, and 2026 has brought the biggest changes to how it is used in a generation. Here is the story so far. Before the score For most of banking history, a loan was a judgment call. A borrower sat across a desk from a loan officer, who looked at savings, past borrowing and income, and then at everything else: reputation around town, family, whether the applicant looked like the officer's idea of a reliable person. That "everything else" is where the system failed. Two people with identical finances could get different answers depending on who they were and who they knew, and borrowers who did not fit the banker's picture of a good risk — single women, minorities, newcomers — were routinely turned away regardless of the numbers. Decisions were slow, inconsistent from branch to branch, and impossible to audit. 1956: two researchers and a formula Fair and Isaac's idea was that repayment behavior could be predicted statistically from data a lender already had, and that a formula would do it more accurately and more consistently than a person. They founded Fair, Isaac and Company in 1956 and sold their first credit-scoring systems to lenders beginning in 1958. Adoption was gradual. Lenders had to be convinced that a model built from historical accounts could beat the experienced officer down the hall, and for decades the business was selling scoring systems directly to lenders rather than to the public. 1987 to 1989: going public and the general-purpose score Two things happened in the late 1980s that turned a niche analytics firm into a household name. Fair, Isaac went public in 1987. And after a trial with the three national credit bureaus that ran from 1986 to 1988, the first general-purpose FICO score launched in 1989. The phrase "general-purpose" is the important part. Instead of a custom model scoring one bank's applicants, this was a single score, … ## Actively Managed vs. Index Funds: Which Is Right for Your Investing Needs in 2026? URL: https://www.ratezip.com/actively-managed-vs-index-mutual-funds-which-is-right-for-your-investing-needs-38940 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-07-11T18:22:19+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T16:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Banking - Tags: index funds, mutual funds, ETFs, expense ratios Summary: Index equity funds cost 0.05% in 2025 vs. 0.64% for active ones, and nine in ten large-cap active funds trailed the S&P 500 over 20 years. When active still earns its keep. Content excerpt: Most people start investing with funds rather than individual stocks, and for good reason: a single fund buys you diversification, and it is simple to own and track. Funds come in two basic flavors, and the choice between them matters more than almost any other decision a beginning investor makes. Actively managed funds employ a manager or team to pick the stocks and bonds inside the fund and trade them in an attempt to beat the market. Index funds are passively managed. Nobody is picking; the fund simply holds what is in a benchmark such as the S&P 500, in the same proportions, and its return tracks the index minus a small fee. A short history Before 1976, essentially every fund was actively managed. On August 31 of that year, John Bogle's Vanguard launched the First Index Investment Trust, now the Vanguard 500 Index Fund. The offering raised about $11 million and the fund charged 0.43% a year. Fifty years later the same fund's admiral shares charge 0.04% and its ETF twin 0.03%, and by year-end 2025 index equity funds with expense ratios in the cheapest quartile held 85% of all index equity mutual fund assets, according to the Investment Company Institute. The experiment became the default. Why index funds usually win: cost An active manager has to be paid, and the fee comes out of your return every year whether or not the manager beats the market. The Investment Company Institute's 2026 Fact Book puts the asset-weighted average expense ratio at 0.64% for actively managed equity mutual funds in 2025, against 0.05% for index equity mutual funds; active bond funds averaged 0.44% versus 0.05% for index bond funds. Active funds have gotten cheaper (the equity average was 1.06% in 2000), but the gap has barely narrowed because index funds got cheaper faster. A gap of 0.59 percentage points sounds small. Compounded, it is not. On a $100,000 portfolio it is $590 a year before any growth. Assume the market delivers roughly 10% a year before fees, the long-run compounded average for the S&P 500 since 1928 in NYU Stern professor Aswath Damodaran's data, … ## Auto Insurance in 2026: Premiums Finally Cool - Unless You're High-Risk URL: https://www.ratezip.com/auto-insurance-2026-rates-cool - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2026-06-19T09:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Insurance Rates, Featured - Tags: auto insurance, insurance rates, 2026 outlook Summary: After 2024's 17% surge, average auto premiums are roughly flat in 2026 at about $2,300-$2,500 a year for full coverage. But rates for DUI, low-credit, and teen drivers are still climbing fast. Content excerpt: The auto insurance shock is finally fading - for most drivers. After premiums surged about 17% in 2024, prices actually fell during 2025, and 2026 is shaping up roughly flat: industry projections put the average increase around 1%, with full-coverage policies averaging in the $2,300-$2,500-a-year range nationally (about $200 a month). The average hides a split market Underneath the calm average, insurers are repricing risk aggressively. Drivers with a DUI have seen increases around 35%. Teen drivers and drivers with low credit-based insurance scores are also paying sharply more, even as clean-record, good-credit drivers see flat or falling renewals. The gap between the cheapest and most expensive risk profiles is the widest it has been in years. One wildcard could reignite increases for everyone: tariffs on imported auto parts. Repair costs feed directly into premiums, and analysts estimate parts tariffs could add several points to premium growth if they persist. What this means at renewal time Flat averages make shopping pay. When every carrier was raising rates 15%+, switching barely helped. In a flat market, the difference between carriers' models for your specific profile is the whole game - quotes on the same driver routinely differ by hundreds of dollars a year. If you're in a penalized group, shop harder, not less. Carriers weight a DUI, a teen on the policy, or a credit score very differently. The 35% average increase is an average of wildly different carrier decisions. Re-check your coverage levels. If your car's value has dropped, collision and comprehensive on a high deductible may no longer earn their premium. Run the numbers with our auto insurance calculator . Ask about telematics. Usage-based programs have matured, and for genuinely low-mileage or smooth drivers the discounts are now material. Renewal notices are not verdicts - they are opening offers. Compare quotes side by side and see our insurance company reviews before you accept one. ## Bad Credit Scores Suck: What a Low Score Costs You in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/bad-credit-scores-suck-88409 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-07-29T09:00:44+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Credit - Tags: bad credit, credit score, cost of credit Summary: What a low score costs in 2026: pricier mortgages, 22%-plus card APRs, 11.43% average used-car loans, deposits, rental screens, insurance premiums, and employer report checks. Content excerpt: Credit-repair pitches never went away; they just moved from late-night TV to your social feed. The pitch works because the underlying fear is accurate: a bad credit score is expensive, and it reaches into corners of life that have nothing to do with borrowing. Before anyone sells you a fix, it helps to know exactly what a low score costs in 2026, and which of those costs are real, exaggerated, or already illegal. Borrowing costs more, or is not available at all This is the obvious one, and the numbers are bigger than most people assume. Mortgages. The 30-year fixed has spent 2026 in the mid-6s. That headline rate is not what everyone pays: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac price loans on a grid that charges more as your score falls and your down payment shrinks, so a weak score means a higher rate, a bigger fee, or both. FHA loans are the usual fallback and they are forgiving — a 580 score qualifies for 3.5% down, and 500 to 579 for 10% down — but individual lenders often set stricter floors of their own. Where rates stand and where they are headed is in our 2026 mortgage rate outlook . Credit cards. The average APR on accounts that carry a balance hit 22.15% in the second quarter of 2026, and many new offers are above 25%. Carry $10,000 at 22% and pay $250 a month and you will spend roughly $8,200 on interest over about six years. Bad credit also means lower limits and a secured card as the starting line instead of a rewards card. The escape plan for 22% card APRs covers the way out. Auto loans. Experian's first-quarter 2026 data put the average new-car loan at 6.39% and the average used-car loan at 11.43%, while borrowers with excellent credit averaged about 4.55% on new cars. The gap between excellent and average is nearly two points on a new car, and the used-car market runs about five points above the new-car average. Personal loans. Three-year personal loans averaged about 13.4% APR in 2026 with origination fees of 1% to 8%, and the weaker your credit, the closer you sit to the top of both ranges. Renting an apartment Landlords and property managers routinely screen applicants' credit, … ## Banks Are Too Generous: Why You Should Borrow Less Than the Bank Will Lend URL: https://www.ratezip.com/banks-are-too-generous-why-you-should-borrow-less-than-the-bank-will-lend-85952 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-09-02T09:00:17+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage - Tags: mortgage affordability, debt-to-income ratio, home buying budget Summary: A mortgage approval is a ceiling, not a budget. Why lenders can stretch debt-to-income to 50% in 2026, what the 28/36 rule says, and how to set your own number. Content excerpt: Ask most people to describe their bank and "generous" is not the word that comes up. Then you apply for a mortgage, and suddenly the same institution that argued with you over an overdraft fee is offering to lend you more money than you have ever seen in one place. The number on a pre-approval letter is often startling — and the most important thing to understand about it is that it is not a recommendation. It is a ceiling. Why the approval is bigger than you expect Lenders do not approve you for what you can comfortably afford. They approve you for the most they believe you can repay, and in 2026 that line sits a long way from the old rules of thumb. The classic budgeting guideline is 28/36: housing costs at or under 28% of gross monthly income, all debt payments combined at or under 36%. Underwriting is far looser. Fannie Mae's Desktop Underwriter will approve conventional loans with total debt-to-income ratios as high as 50%. FHA's standard guideline is 31% for housing and 43% for all debt, and automated FHA approvals can stretch to roughly 46.9% and 56.9% with compensating factors. The 28/36 rule is a budgeting guideline, not a lender limit, and lenders routinely approve well above it. Put those ratios on a real paycheck. A household earning $120,000 a year has $10,000 a month in gross income. The 28% guideline caps its housing payment at $2,800. If that household carries no other debt, a conventional approval at 50% could allow a total payment of $5,000 a month — nearly 80% more than the guideline, all of it going to housing. And that is gross income: taxes, retirement contributions and health insurance come out before you ever see it. Translate the payments into loan size at a rate consistent with 2026's mid-6s market, say 6.5% on a 30-year fixed, and set taxes and insurance aside for a moment. $2,800 a month of principal and interest carries a loan of roughly $443,000, which with a down payment on top puts a home near the mid-2026 median existing-home price of about $429,300 within reach. $5,000 a month carries roughly $791,000 — more than six times that household's income. Property taxes, homeowners insurance and any HOA dues shrink both loan amounts, … ## What Do Lenders Look for When Setting Your Mortgage Rate? URL: https://www.ratezip.com/banks-look-setting-mortgage-rate-29555 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-02-06T09:00:42+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage - Tags: mortgage rates, credit score, mortgage pricing Summary: Markets set the baseline; your file sets the adjustments. How credit score, down payment, and loan purpose move your 2026 mortgage rate, and why income doesn't. Content excerpt: A mortgage is the biggest loan most people ever take, and the rate does its damage quietly: at 2026's mid-6% rates, the lifetime interest on a 30-year loan can exceed the amount you borrowed. Other than borrowing less or choosing a shorter term, the best cost control available is qualifying for the best possible rate — which starts with understanding how lenders actually set it. The market sets the starting point No loan officer picks your rate off the Fed's latest announcement. Thirty-year mortgage rates price off the bond market: the 10-year Treasury yield plus a spread for the mortgage-backed securities most home loans are bundled into — a spread that has been running wider than its long-run norm in the 2024–26 environment. The Fed's short-term rate influences that market only indirectly, which is why mortgage rates sometimes drift lower while the Fed holds still and sometimes rise after a cut. The famous "national average" still exists: Freddie Mac publishes its long-running weekly rate survey, and through August 2026 it showed the 30-year fixed holding in a tight band in the mid-6s. Where the market heads next is a forecasting question — see our 2026 mortgage rate outlook — but where your loan lands inside that landscape is decided by your file. Your credit score and your down payment Since May 2023, conventional loans sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been priced off published grids of loan-level price adjustments keyed to three things: your credit score, your loan-to-value ratio, and the loan's purpose. Your credit score is your financial reputation, and it is the biggest pricing lever you control. A higher score means fewer adjustments and a cheaper loan. A bigger down payment works the same way: a lower loan-to-value ratio gives the lender a bigger cushion if things go wrong, so it prices better — and on a conventional loan, 20% down also removes private mortgage insurance from the equation entirely. Loan purpose is the grid's third axis: a cash-out refinance, for instance, is priced as riskier than a straightforward purchase. None of this is loan-officer discretion. It is arithmetic applied to your file, … ## The Best Mortgage Options for First-Time Home Buyers in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/best-mortgages-for-a-first-time-home-buyer - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2015-03-16T18:50:26+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage - Tags: first-time home buyer, FHA loans, low down payment Summary: FHA with 3.5% down at a 580 score, 3%-down conventional programs, zero-down VA and USDA loans, and state assistance — a first-time buyer's 2026 map. Content excerpt: Buying a first home in 2026 means shopping a tough market: 30-year mortgage rates have spent the year in the mid-6% range, and the median existing home ran about $429,300 as of mid-year. For most first-time buyers the down payment — not the monthly payment — is the wall. The good news: the menu of low- and no-down-payment mortgages is wider than most people realize. Here are six options worth knowing, and when each one makes sense. FHA loans: the flexible-credit workhorse Choose it when: your credit score or savings are the obstacle. Loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) are the classic first-time-buyer path because the qualifying bar sits lower than almost anywhere else. With a credit score of 580 or higher, you can put down as little as 3.5% of the purchase price. Scores from 500 to 579 can still qualify, but the required down payment rises to 10%. Those are FHA's floors, though — individual lenders often layer stricter standards on top, so one lender's no isn't every lender's no. The trade-off is mortgage insurance, which on FHA loans typically runs for the life of the loan at the smallest down payments. FHA also caps how much you can borrow, and the caps reset this year — check the 2026 conforming and FHA loan limits before you set a price range. Conventional loans with just 3% down Choose it when: your credit is solid but your savings are thin. Plenty of buyers still assume a conventional loan means 20% down. It doesn't. Three widely offered programs allow qualified buyers to put down 3%: Fannie Mae HomeReady and Freddie Mac Home Possible , both limited to borrowers earning no more than 80% of their area's median income. Conventional 97 , which has no income cap but is generally reserved for first-time buyers. Lenders typically look for a credit score around 620 or better. You'll pay private mortgage insurance at first, but unlike FHA's insurance, conventional PMI can be dropped once you're past 20% equity — and putting 20% down from the start avoids it entirely. VA loans: zero down for those who served Choose it when: you or your spouse serve or served in the U.S. military. Backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, … ## Should You Buy Life Insurance for Your Kids? URL: https://www.ratezip.com/buy-life-insurance-kids-16728 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-01-13T09:00:06+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T23:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Insurance Rates - Tags: life insurance, child life insurance, life insurance riders Summary: Most kids don't need life insurance. Why a child rider on a parent's term policy beats a standalone policy for most families, and the two real exceptions. Content excerpt: Life insurance has one purpose: to replace money that would disappear if the insured person died. That is why parents of minor children need it, so the kids are provided for if a parent dies before they are grown. It is also the logic behind the final-expense policies pitched to retirees, so adult children are not handed a funeral bill. The test is always the same. Would this person's death cause someone a financial hardship? If yes, insure the life. If no, keep the premium. The test cuts both ways. A single homeowner with no dependents generally does not need a policy to pay off the mortgage; nobody is waiting to keep the house, and the estate can sell it and settle the loan. Apply the same test to a child and, for most families, the answer is no. Why a child usually does not need a policy The death of a child is a tragedy, and it is also rare. When it does happen, it seldom creates a lasting financial hardship once the immediate expenses are paid, because nobody was living on the child's income. So a policy on a child is not really insurance against a loss of support. It is a small death benefit attached to a savings feature, sold at an age when the insurance itself costs little because the risk is low. That is the right way to read the child whole life policies advertised on television. Gerber Life's Grow-Up Plan, the best known, is whole life coverage issued from 14 days through age 17 in face amounts of $5,000 to $50,000. The premium is locked for life, the policy builds cash value, and the coverage amount doubles during the year the child is 18 with no increase in premium. Gerber's own price example is as little as $3.70 a month for $5,000 of coverage on an infant in Delaware. None of that is a trick. It is simply a small permanent policy, and small permanent policies are an expensive way to save. If the goal is a college fund, a 529 plan is built for that job and is tax-advantaged. If the goal is money for the family if the worst happens, the priority is the parents' coverage, not the child's. Insure the parents first A parent's death is the event that would actually upend a child's life, … ## Buying a Home in Mid-2026: More Inventory, Flat Prices, Real Leverage URL: https://www.ratezip.com/buying-a-home-mid-2026 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2026-07-14T09:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage, Real Estate - Tags: homebuying, housing market, 2026 outlook Summary: Median existing-home prices are up just 1.3% year over year and inventory has climbed to 4.5 months of supply. Why mid-2026 is the most buyer-friendly market in years, and how to use it. Content excerpt: For the first time in years, homebuyers have real negotiating room. The mid-2026 market is defined by three shifts that all favor the buyer's side of the table. 1. Price growth has nearly stopped The U.S. median existing-home price sits around $429,300 as of mid-2026 - up only about 1.3% from a year earlier, a sharp slowdown from the appreciation of recent years. Asking prices have actually been falling: May marked the seventh straight monthly year-over-year decline in listing prices, the steepest stretch since 2017. Sellers are pricing to the market instead of testing it. 2. Inventory has rebuilt Unsold inventory reached about 1.55 million homes in May - roughly 4.5 months of supply. That is still shy of the 5-6 months that defines a fully balanced market, but it is a world away from the one-month-of-supply frenzy buyers faced a few years ago. More listings means more choice, more time to decide, and sellers who negotiate on price, repairs, and closing credits. 3. Rates are stable enough to plan around The 30-year fixed has spent the year in the low-to-mid 6% range, and forecasters expect it to stay near 6.4% through year-end. Stable rates are underrated: they let you shop without the payment math changing under you week to week. Track them on the Rate Index . How to press the advantage Negotiate beyond price. In a 4.5-month-supply market, seller-paid rate buydowns, repair credits, and closing-cost contributions are all on the table. Ask. Get fully underwritten before you offer. A pre-approval backed by verified documents lets you compete with shorter contingencies without taking on real risk. Check assistance programs. Down-payment assistance is not just for first-time buyers, and income caps are higher than most people assume. Browse homebuyer programs by state . Shop the loan as hard as the house. Lender spreads on identical borrowers routinely exceed an eighth of a point. Our buying-a-home guide and lender reviews are the place to start. Markets vary block by block - the national numbers above are the backdrop, not your neighborhood's script. But the direction is unmistakable: mid-2026 favors the prepared buyer. ## Can You Borrow to Pay Your Taxes? IRS Payment Plans vs. Loans in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/can-borrow-pay-taxes-43942 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-01-24T09:00:28+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T23:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Loans - Tags: tax bill, IRS payment plan, personal loans, home equity Summary: Owe the IRS and can't pay? Compare a 2026 IRS payment plan (roughly 10% a year all-in) with a personal loan, a credit card and home equity before you borrow. Content excerpt: The tax bill is bigger than the balance in your checking account. It happens to freelancers who skipped estimated payments and to anyone whose withholding fell short. The worst response is to not file; the second worst is to grab the first loan you can find. In 2026 you have four realistic ways to cover what you owe, and the cheapest one is usually the IRS itself. File first, even if you cannot pay The IRS charges a failure-to-pay penalty of 0.5% of the unpaid tax for each month or part of a month it stays unpaid, up to a cap of 25%. On top of that, underpayment interest for individuals is 7% for the second half of 2026, compounded daily. Ignore the notices long enough and the penalty rate doubles to 1% a month once you are more than 10 days past a notice of intent to levy. Filing on time also keeps you eligible for the reduced penalty rate that comes with an approved payment plan, described below. Option 1: an IRS payment plan The IRS will finance its own bill, and its terms beat almost everything else on this list. Short-term plan. If you can pay the full balance within 180 days, there is no setup fee. You still owe interest and the failure-to-pay penalty until the balance is gone, but nothing extra for the arrangement itself. Long-term plan (installment agreement). Individuals who owe $50,000 or less in combined tax, penalties and interest, and who have filed all required returns, can apply online. Setup fees as of September 2026: $29 online with direct debit, $69 online without it; applying by phone, mail or in person costs $107 with direct debit or $178 without. Low-income taxpayers get the direct-debit fee waived and pay a reduced $43 otherwise, reimbursed when the plan is completed. Guaranteed agreement. If you owe income tax only, $10,000 or less, and agree to pay it off within three years, you qualify for a guaranteed installment agreement. Here is the number that matters. While an approved installment agreement is in effect, the failure-to-pay penalty drops from 0.5% to 0.25% a month for taxpayers who filed on time. That is 3% a year in penalty plus 7% in interest, so the all-in cost of an IRS plan runs roughly 10% a year in late 2026. … ## Can Your Potential Employer Check Your Credit? The Rules in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/can-your-potential-employer-check-your-credit-14345 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-10-14T09:00:53+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T16:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Credit - Tags: credit report, employment, FCRA Summary: Employers can pull a credit report (never a score) only with your written consent and a strict notice process, and 11 states now restrict it. What they see and how to prepare. Content excerpt: Lenders are not the only people who read credit reports. Insurers, landlords and utility companies use them, and so do some employers, most often for jobs that involve handling money, sensitive data or security. Whether a prospective employer can pull your credit has a clear federal answer and a growing list of state and local exceptions. Here is how it works in 2026, and how to get ready if a job you want asks. Why an employer would want to look The usual reasoning is risk. An employer hiring someone to manage cash, approve payments or handle confidential information wants some assurance that the person is not under severe financial pressure. Whether credit history actually predicts anything about workplace behavior is debated, and how common the practice is varies by industry and role, so treat it as something that can happen for certain jobs rather than a routine step for all of them. What federal law requires Employment credit checks fall under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and the rules are strict enough that a careful employer follows a script. Before the report is pulled, the employer must give you a written notice, on a stand-alone document rather than buried in the application, saying it may obtain a consumer report, and it must get your written permission. If it then decides not to hire you, or to withdraw an offer, based on anything in the report, it must first give you a copy of that report along with a document called "A Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act," so you have a chance to respond or dispute before the decision is final. After an adverse decision, it must tell you the name and contact details of the reporting agency, state that the agency did not make the decision, and tell you that you can dispute the report and get a free copy from that agency within 60 days. You can refuse. An employer cannot pull the report without your signature. Refusing has its own cost, since the employer can decide not to proceed with you, so weigh that before you decline rather than treating it as a free option. What the employer actually sees Employers do not get your credit score. … ## Did Your Car Insurance Quote Jump at Checkout? URL: https://www.ratezip.com/car-insurance-quote-jumped-at-checkout - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2026-08-26T17:30:00+00:00 - Categories: Insurance Rates - Tags: auto insurance, CLUE report, driving record, insurance quotes, coverage lapse Summary: Your online quote looked great, then the price jumped when you tried to buy. Here's what carriers check behind the scenes, and what you can do about it. Content excerpt: You compared quotes online, picked the best one, and started the purchase. Then the price came back higher than the quote. Sometimes a little, sometimes dramatically. You didn't mistype anything, and you didn't lie. So what happened? You're not alone, and it's usually not something you did wrong. It's how auto insurance pricing actually works. Once you know what's happening behind the scenes, you can do something about it. The quote is an estimate. The checkout price is a verdict. An online quote is priced from what you tell the insurer. Before a policy is actually issued, most carriers verify your answers against third-party records, and if those records say something different than you did, the price is recalculated. Three checks do most of the damage: 1. Your claims history report (C.L.U.E. Auto). Most auto insurers report claims to a shared database called C.L.U.E. (the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange, maintained by LexisNexis) and check it before issuing a policy. It generally covers about seven years. Here's the part that surprises people: it can include claims where nothing was ever paid , and in some cases records created when you simply called your insurer to ask whether something was covered. To you, that windshield call was a question. In the database, it can look like claims activity. 2. Your driving record (MVR). Carriers pull your motor vehicle record from the state at purchase time. Tickets you forgot about, a violation you thought was dismissed or too old to matter, or paperwork that hasn't caught up with a resolved case can all show up, and each one can move your rate. 3. Your coverage history. Insurers price continuous coverage. Even a short gap between policies (a move, a car you sold, a payment that lapsed while you were switching) can drop you out of the pricing tier your quote assumed, because the quote assumed you were continuously insured. None of these checks are hidden from you by law. They're just run after you've mentally committed to a price, which is why the jump feels like a bait-and-switch even when it's mechanical. The three surprises that cause most jumps The claim you never "made." You called about hail damage, … ## Car Loan, Bad Credit, No Worries: How to Finance a Car With a Low Credit Score in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/car-loan-bad-credit-no-worries-34040 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-07-26T09:00:03+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T16:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Auto Loans - Tags: auto loans, bad credit, subprime auto loans, car loan refinance Summary: Subprime car buyers paid about 13% on new loans and 19% on used in early 2026. Weekly free reports, soft-pull prequalifying, credit unions and a later refinance cut that cost. Content excerpt: A low credit score does not lock you out of a car loan. In the first quarter of 2026, subprime and deep-subprime borrowers together accounted for roughly one in six auto loans, according to Experian's State of the Automotive Finance Market report. What a low score does is raise the price, sometimes dramatically, and it makes you a target for the worst financing on the lot. The goal is not just to get approved. It is to get approved on terms you can live with, and then to stop paying the bad-credit premium as soon as you can. What bad credit actually costs Experian's first-quarter 2026 data puts the gap in plain numbers. Borrowers in the prime tier (661 to 780 on VantageScore 4.0) averaged about 6.2% on new-car loans and 8.8% on used. Subprime borrowers (501 to 600) averaged roughly 13.4% on new and 19.4% on used; deep subprime (300 to 500) ran about 16% new and 21.8% used. Across all borrowers, the second-quarter 2026 averages were 6.35% for new vehicles and 11.19% for used. Put those rates on the average used-car loan of the period, about $27,850 over 60 months, and the difference is stark: roughly $575 a month and about $6,650 in total interest at the prime rate, versus about $729 a month and nearly $15,900 in interest at the subprime rate. Same car, same term, more than $9,000 apart. Every step below is about closing that gap. 1. Pull your reports before anyone else does The old advice was to check your credit report once a year. Since 2023 you can pull it from all three bureaus free every week at AnnualCreditReport.com, so there is no reason to walk into a lender blind. Read the reports for errors and dispute anything wrong. Then look at what is dragging your score down: Collections. Newer scoring models (FICO 9, FICO 10 and VantageScore 3.0 and 4.0) ignore paid collections entirely, and the three bureaus no longer report medical collections under $500. Settling an old collection can help more than it used to. Utilization. Card balances above 30% of your limits pull scores down; paying them toward zero before you apply is the fastest lift available. Recent inquiries. … ## CD Rates in 2026: Lock Now, or Stay Liquid? URL: https://www.ratezip.com/cd-rates-2026-lock-or-stay-liquid - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2026-07-02T09:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Savings, Banking - Tags: cd rates, savings, federal reserve, 2026 outlook Summary: Top CDs pay around 4.3%-4.5% APY in July 2026, but the Fed's projected path points lower by 2027. The case for locking a rate now, the case for staying liquid, and how a ladder splits the difference. Content excerpt: Certificate-of-deposit shoppers face a genuine fork in mid-2026. Top nationally available CDs pay roughly 4.3%-4.5% APY, with the best high-yield savings accounts in the same neighborhood. Meanwhile the Federal Reserve - which cut three times in 2025 and has held steady since - projects a median federal funds rate of about 3.1% by March 2027. If that projection plays out, today's CD rates are a closing window. If inflation forces the Fed to stay higher for longer (its own 2026 projections have leaned hawkish), locking early costs you little either way. The case for locking now A CD's fixed rate is insurance against the Fed's projected path. Lock a multi-year CD near 4.4% today and you keep earning it even if new-issue CDs pay 3.5% in 2027. The math favors locking the longest term that matches money you genuinely will not need - the yield curve on CDs is unusually flat, so you give up little for the certainty. The case for staying liquid High-yield savings currently pays about the same as short CDs, with no lock at all. If your timeline is uncertain - a house purchase that might happen in eight months, an emergency fund - the penalty risk of a CD outweighs a few basis points. Savings APYs float down when the Fed cuts, but you can move money the day that happens. The ladder splits the difference Divide the money across staggered maturities - say, equal pieces in 6-month, 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year CDs. Something matures every few months (liquidity), while the longer rungs lock today's rates (protection). As each rung matures, re-invest at whatever the market then offers. It is the strategy that requires no forecast to be right. Our savings guide covers matching each vehicle to its time horizon. Two practical notes: only chase rates at FDIC- or NCUA-insured institutions, and mind the early-withdrawal penalty terms - some banks now offer no-penalty CDs at a modest rate discount. Rates move weekly; compare current top CD and savings APYs before committing. ## How to Choose the Right Bank Account in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/choose-right-bank-account-80885 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-04-28T16:16:44+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Savings - Tags: bank accounts, checking accounts, high-yield savings, FDIC insurance Summary: Checking, savings, money market or CD? Pick each account by its job: what it should pay in 2026, which fees are normal, and how deposit insurance really works. Content excerpt: Picking a bank account used to be a question of convenience: which branch is closest, which app is least annoying. In 2026 it is also a question of money. Top high-yield savings accounts pay around 4% APY while many large traditional banks still pay well under 1% on standard savings, and the gap between a free checking account and a fee-charging one adds up over a year. The right approach is to stop hunting for one perfect account and instead match each account to a job. First, the safety check Whatever you open, make sure the deposits are federally insured. FDIC coverage at a bank, or NCUA coverage at a credit union, protects $250,000 per depositor, per institution, per ownership category if the institution fails. The limit is per bank, not per account, so someone with larger balances can spread money across institutions or ownership categories (individual, joint, retirement) to stay fully covered. One 2026 wrinkle: many apps that look like banks are not banks. They hold your money at a partner bank and describe it as FDIC-insured, which is true only in a narrow sense. That pass-through insurance covers the failure of the partner bank; it does not cover the failure of the app itself or the middleman that keeps its ledger, as the 2024 failure of one such ledger provider showed. Regulators have proposed tighter recordkeeping rules for these arrangements but have not finalized them. If an account matters to you, favor a chartered bank or credit union you can name, or at least confirm which bank actually holds your deposits. The four account types, and the job each does Checking is your operating account: paychecks in, bills and debit purchases out. Most checking pays little or nothing, so it should hold roughly a month of spending plus a cushion, not your savings. Savings is where money waits. The distinction that matters is not savings versus checking but high-yield versus standard: an online high-yield account paying around 4% earns roughly $1,000 a year more on a $30,000 balance than a big-bank account paying under 1%. Savings accounts are liquid, usually one transfer away from checking, with no penalty for pulling money out. … ## How to Convert a Secured Credit Card to an Unsecured Card URL: https://www.ratezip.com/convert-secured-card-unsecured-58795 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-05-14T09:40:51+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T16:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Credit - Tags: secured credit card, building credit, credit cards Summary: When a secured card graduates, what triggers the review, where your deposit goes, why to keep the account open, and when applying for a new card beats waiting. Content excerpt: A secured credit card is the standard on-ramp for anyone starting from zero or rebuilding after a rough stretch: you put down a deposit, the issuer gives you a credit line, and you use it like any other card. The deposit is the part nobody wants to leave sitting there. The good news is that most secured cards are designed to be temporary. Handle the account well and the issuer will, sooner or later, hand the deposit back and treat you as an unsecured customer. Here is how that graduation actually works, what you can do to speed it up, and when it makes more sense to stop waiting and apply somewhere else. First, a myth to retire An older version of this article claimed that scoring models treat secured cards less favorably than unsecured ones. That is not how it works. A secured card reports to the credit bureaus as an ordinary revolving account, and the scoring models read it the same way: on-time payments build your payment history (35% of a FICO score), and a low balance relative to the limit helps the amounts-owed factor (30%). The deposit is between you and the issuer; the score does not see it. So there is no penalty for keeping a secured card around, and a good deal of upside in keeping it open once it converts. How graduation works Graduation is the issuer's decision, made on the issuer's schedule. The major issuers review secured accounts periodically and, if the account qualifies, either upgrade it to an unsecured product or release the deposit and keep the account as it is. The schedules differ, and they are worth knowing before you pick a card: Citi publishes the clearest timeline: its secured Mastercard is reviewed for early graduation starting at nine months and then on a 12-month basis; qualifying accounts move to the Citi Diamond Preferred card and the deposit is returned. Its deposit runs from $200 to $2,500, with no annual fee. Capital One says its Platinum Secured card is automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months. The deposit is $49, $99 or $200 for a $200 starting line, again with no annual fee. Bank of America says it periodically reviews its secured card for the return of the deposit, … ## Could High Mortgage Rates Be Good for Homebuyers? URL: https://www.ratezip.com/could-high-mortgage-rates-be-good-for-homebuyers - Type: article - Author: LeeAnn Reynolds - Published: 2022-04-18T14:48:27+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Loans, Mortgage, Real Estate - Tags: mortgage rates, homebuying, housing market, down payment Summary: Fewer bidding wars, price growth throttled to about 1%, and down-payment cash finally earning ~4% - what stubbornly high mortgage rates actually do for buyers. Content excerpt: When this article first ran in the spring of 2022, mortgage rates between 2% and 3% were disappearing in the rearview mirror and the question in the headline was still hypothetical. It isn't anymore. The 30-year fixed has spent 2026 in the mid-6s, and anyone who shopped near the October 2023 peak — when rates brushed 8% — knows exactly what expensive money does to a monthly payment. Nobody roots for high rates. But a high-rate market genuinely redistributes leverage, and more of it lands with buyers than the gloom suggests. Here is what stubbornly high rates actually do for you. Cooler competition — and homes that wait for you High rates thin the buyer pool. Fewer qualified bidders per listing means fewer bidding wars, and homes sit on the market longer than they did when money was nearly free. That waiting time is your negotiating power. In the frenzy years, buyers waived inspections and appraisal contingencies just to get a seller's attention; in a slower market, offers with contingencies survive, repair requests get answered, and seller credits toward closing costs are back on the table. You also simply see more houses before committing. When listings linger, you are choosing among options instead of grabbing whatever hasn't been snatched up by Sunday night. Price growth has been throttled The clearest silver lining is what high rates did to price momentum. The median existing-home price sat near $429,300 in mid-2026, up just 1.3% from a year earlier. That is not the crash some sidelined buyers keep waiting for — and you shouldn't count on one — but it is a world away from the double-digit sprints of the low-rate era. For anyone still saving toward a purchase, the difference is everything: a target that rises about 1% a year is a target you can actually catch. The goalposts have, for now, mostly stopped moving. Your down-payment fund finally earns real interest The 2022 version of this argument said rising rates would eventually lift savings yields. That happened — and the yields have outlasted the hiking cycle. The Federal Reserve cut rates three times in 2025 and has held steady through the first half of 2026, … ## Credit Card APRs Are Still Above 22% in 2026. Here's the Escape Plan. URL: https://www.ratezip.com/credit-card-aprs-2026-escape-plan - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2026-06-10T09:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Credit - Tags: credit cards, debt consolidation, credit score Summary: The average APR on interest-accruing credit card accounts hit 22.15% in Q2 2026 - near record territory even after Fed cuts. A practical sequence for getting off the interest treadmill. Content excerpt: The Federal Reserve cut rates three times in 2025, and card issuers passed almost none of it along. The average APR on credit card accounts actually accruing interest reached 22.15% in the second quarter of 2026 - up from the first quarter, and close to the record highs of recent years. Broader averages across all cards sit near 19-20%, with many new-offer APRs above 25%. At 22%, a $10,000 balance paid at $250 a month costs about $6,500 in interest and takes more than five years to clear. The rate is the emergency. Here is the sequence that gets people out, in order of preference: 1. Ask. Seriously. Issuers grant APR reductions to long-standing customers with improved credit far more often than people expect - but almost never unprompted. One phone call: "I've been offered a lower rate elsewhere; can you match it?" The worst case is a no. 2. The 0% balance transfer, used correctly Promotional 0% transfer windows of 12-21 months remain widely available to good-credit applicants in 2026. The transfer fee (typically 3-5%) is the cost of buying months where every dollar hits principal. It only works with a payoff schedule that clears the balance inside the window - divide the balance by the number of promo months, and automate exactly that payment. Miss the window and the deferred rate makes the fee a pure loss. 3. Consolidate to a fixed rate If the balance will not clear in a promo window, a personal loan near 13-14% converts revolving debt into a fixed payment with an end date - the full math is in our personal loan rates breakdown . Homeowners can price a HELOC as well, at materially lower rates, with the caveat that it puts the house behind the debt. 4. Attack the utilization flywheel High balances suppress your credit score via utilization; the suppressed score then disqualifies you from the best transfer and consolidation offers. Paying one card below 30% of its limit - even by shuffling payment order - can lift your score enough to unlock better refinancing terms for the rest. Sequencing matters more than willpower. Our credit and debt guide covers the mechanics. ## Credit Card Prequalification: What It Really Means (and What It Doesn't) URL: https://www.ratezip.com/credit-card-prequalification-really-means-69495 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-02-21T09:00:34+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T16:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Credit - Tags: credit card prequalification, prescreened offers, credit inquiries Summary: Prequalified means a soft pull and a maybe, not an approval, a rate or a limit. How prescreened mail and issuer tools work, why you can still be declined, and how to opt out. Content excerpt: "You're prequalified!" is one of the most common phrases in American mail, and one of the least understood. It shows up on envelopes, in banking apps, and at the top of card-comparison sites, and it sounds like a decision has already been made in your favor. It has not. Prequalification is a screening step, not an approval, and the terms printed on the offer are a range, not a promise. Here is what it actually tells you, what it leaves out, and how to use it without getting burned. Two kinds of "prequalified" The word covers two different things, and they work differently. Prescreened offers are the ones that arrive uninvited. Card issuers buy lists from the credit bureaus of people who meet a broad profile the issuer specifies, and mail offers to everyone on the list. The bureau inquiry behind a prescreened offer does not affect your credit score. The issuer does not know your income, has not verified your identity, and has not underwritten you; it knows you fit a filter. Issuer prequalification tools are the ones you start yourself. Most major issuers have a page where you enter basic identifying information and your income, and they tell you which of their cards you are likely to be approved for. This is a soft inquiry: it does not affect your score. It is more personalized than a mailed offer, because you supplied income and the issuer can look at your file, but it is still an estimate. In both cases the answer is "you would probably be approved if you applied." Neither one is an approval. What prequalification does not guarantee The interest rate. Read the terms on any offer and you will find the purchase APR listed as a range, with the lowest number in the largest type. Which end of the range you land on is decided when you formally apply, based on your full report and the income you state. In 2026 the average APR on accounts carrying a balance is above 22%, many new offers are above 25%, and the CFPB put the average APR on newly opened general-purpose accounts at 27.5% in 2024, so the gap between the headline rate and the one you get can be several points. The credit limit. The offer may mention a limit "up to" some figure. … ## How to Deal When Your Car Loan Is Upside Down URL: https://www.ratezip.com/deal-car-loan-upside-55021 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-03-26T19:28:25+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T16:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Auto Loans - Tags: negative equity, auto loans, car loan refinance, gap insurance Summary: Nearly 30% of new-car buyers with a trade-in were underwater in mid-2026, by $6,884 on average. How loans go upside down and your options: keep, prepay, refinance or sell. Content excerpt: A car loan is upside down, or underwater, when you owe more than the car would sell for. It has never been more common. Edmunds reported that 29.6% of new-vehicle purchases with a trade-in in the second quarter of 2026 involved negative equity, and the average shortfall was $6,884, a record. Those buyers rolled the old debt into the new loan and ended up with an average payment of $944 a month, versus $777 for buyers who traded in clean, and average total finance charges of $16,270 versus $9,811. Negative equity is not just an accounting problem. It compounds. How a loan goes underwater Three things push a loan below the car's value, and they usually arrive together: Little or nothing down. A new car loses value quickly in its first years. If you financed the whole price plus taxes, fees and add-ons, the loan starts out above the car's resale value and takes years to catch up. A long term. The average new-car loan ran about 69 months in the first quarter of 2026, and more than a third of new loans stretched past 72 months. On the average new-car loan of the period, about $43,600 at 6.35%, a 48-month borrower has paid off roughly 47% of the balance after two years; an 84-month borrower has paid off about 24%. The car depreciates on the same schedule either way. Rolled-in extras. Extended warranties, dealer gap coverage and the negative equity from your last car all get financed on top of a vehicle worth less than the total. Gap coverage bought through your own insurer typically runs $20 to $40 a year; the dealer's version is a flat $400 to $700, usually added to the loan. First, find out how far under you are Get a payoff quote from your lender (not the balance on your statement, which leaves out accrued interest), then price the car three ways: a private-sale estimate, a dealer trade-in offer and an instant cash offer from a large online buyer. The difference between the payoff and the best realistic sale price is your negative equity. Everything below depends on that number. If you want to keep the car Keep paying and let time work. If the car runs, the payment fits and you are not planning to sell, being upside down costs you nothing today. … ## Debt vs. Investing: A Game of Rates in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/debt-vs-investing-a-game-of-rates-33762 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-04-18T16:16:29+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T16:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Credit - Tags: debt payoff, investing, credit card debt, 401(k) match Summary: Card APRs above 22%, savings near 4%, stocks about 10% a year long-run before inflation. A five-step order for which dollars pay down debt and which get invested in 2026. Content excerpt: Should you pay down debt or invest? The original version of this article, from 2014, said the answer comes down to rates, and that is still the right frame. What has changed is the rates. Credit card interest is far higher than it was, safe savings finally pay something real, and the retirement-match rules make one particular dollar worth more than any other. Here is the 2026 version of the game, with the numbers filled in. The rates on the board Every debt you hold is a guaranteed return waiting to be collected: pay off a balance at 22% and you have earned 22%, risk-free and tax-free. Every investment is a hoped-for return. Line them up: Credit cards: 22.15% average APR on accounts that carry a balance as of the second quarter of 2026, with many new offers above 25% and store cards averaging over 31% in the CFPB's 2024 data. Personal loans: about 13.4% for a three-year loan in 2026, plus origination fees of 1% to 8%. Auto loans: 6.35% average for new cars and 11.19% for used in mid-2026, per Experian. Federal student loans: 6.52% for undergraduate Direct loans disbursed in 2026-27; 9.07% for Parent PLUS. Mortgages: mid-6s for a 30-year fixed through 2026; HELOCs around 7.25%. Stocks: roughly 10% a year compounded over the last century before inflation, per NYU Stern professor Aswath Damodaran's data. That is a long-run average, not a promise; individual years swing wildly in both directions. Cash: about 4% APY in the best high-yield savings accounts and 4.3% to 4.5% in top CDs in 2026, while many big-bank savings accounts still pay under 1%. The old rule of thumb assumed a narrower gap between what cards charge and what markets return, and a cash yield of essentially zero. Neither assumption holds in 2026, and the order of operations below follows from that. Step 1: Take the full 401(k) match If your employer matches contributions, the match is the highest return available to you anywhere, and it beats paying off any debt. A dollar-for-dollar match is an instant 100% return on the matched dollars; a 50-cent match is an instant 50% return. No card charges that much. Contribute enough to capture every matching dollar before you do anything else, … ## Eight Uses for Personal Loans — and Which Ones Make Sense in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/eight-uses-for-personal-loans - Type: article - Author: LeeAnn Reynolds - Published: 2022-08-09T15:36:14+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Featured, Loans - Tags: personal loans, debt consolidation, borrowing basics Summary: Eight common uses for a personal loan, reordered for 2026: which hold up at a ~13.4% average APR plus origination fees, and which are better paid in cash. Content excerpt: A personal loan will fund almost anything — that has always been its pitch. The better question in 2026 is what it should fund. The average three-year personal loan carries an APR around 13.4%, five-year terms run several points higher, and many lenders subtract an origination fee of 1%–8% before you see a dollar. At those prices, a personal loan is a sharp tool for some jobs and an expensive habit for others. Here are the eight most common uses, ordered from strongest case to weakest. 1. Consolidate High-Interest Debt This is the use that most reliably leaves you better off. The average APR on credit card accounts that carry a balance reached 22.15% in the second quarter of 2026; the average three-year personal loan runs around 13.4%. Rolling several card balances into one fixed-rate loan can cut the interest cost by several points and — just as important — replaces open-ended minimum payments with a fixed payoff date. One payment is also simply easier to manage than five. Before committing, compare the loan's full cost, origination fee included, against what your cards actually charge, and look at every way to consolidate credit card debt to see whether a balance transfer or another route fits your situation better. 2. Pay Off a Single Expensive Debt Even with just one debt — a payday loan, a high-APR store card, an old loan with an ugly rate — refinancing into a cheaper personal loan can make sense. Do the arithmetic first. How much interest will you actually save? Does the old debt charge a prepayment penalty that eats the benefit? Will the new loan's origination fee outweigh the rate improvement? If the numbers still favor the swap after fees, it's a sound move; if they're close, it's just churn with paperwork. 3. Bridge a True Emergency Personal loans often fund within a few days of approval, and sometimes the same day — which makes them a workable bridge when a medical bill or a failed transmission can't wait. The better answer is money you already have: an emergency fund parked where it earns interest. But when the cushion isn't built yet, a fixed-rate loan with a defined payoff beats letting the balance ride on a credit card at 20%-plus. 4. … ## What to Expect When You Apply for a Personal Loan in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/expect-apply-personal-loan - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-06-25T09:00:59+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T23:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Loans - Tags: personal loans, loan application, credit inquiries Summary: Soft-pull rate checks, documents, the hard inquiry, origination fees and same-day funding: the personal-loan application process step by step, with mid-2026 lender terms. Content excerpt: A personal loan is the plain-vanilla way to borrow a fixed amount and pay it back in equal monthly installments, usually without collateral. People use them to consolidate card balances, cover a repair, or bridge a gap that a credit card would make expensive: the average APR on interest-accruing card accounts was 22.15% in the second quarter of 2026, while three-year personal loans averaged about 13.4%. That gap is the reason to apply. What follows is what actually happens between deciding to borrow and seeing the money. Step 1: check your rate with a soft pull The biggest change since this article was first written is that you no longer apply blind. Most online lenders and many banks let you prequalify with a soft credit inquiry that does not affect your score. SoFi, Upstart and Discover all describe their rate checks that way as of mid-2026: you enter your income, the amount you want and the purpose, and you get an estimated rate and payment. Because the soft pull costs your credit nothing, you can run it at several lenders and compare real offers before committing. The estimate is not a guarantee; the final rate depends on the full application, and lenders say so in the fine print. Step 2: decide how much, for how long The 2014 version of this article said personal loans topped out at a few thousand dollars. That is no longer the market. As of mid-2026, Discover lends $2,500–$40,000, Upstart $1,000–$75,000, and SoFi and LightStream $5,000–$100,000. SoFi, for example, offers terms of two to seven years or ten years. A longer term lowers the payment and raises the total interest, and lenders price it: five-year loans average several points more than three-year loans. Borrow the amount you need, pick the shortest term whose payment you can carry comfortably, and confirm there is no prepayment penalty so you can finish early. Step 3: gather the documents Expect to provide a government ID, your Social Security number, proof of income (recent pay stubs, or tax returns and bank statements if you are self-employed), and the bank account details the lender will use for funding and autopay. Lenders verify identity and income electronically where they can, … ## Five Biggest Mistakes New Homebuyers Make URL: https://www.ratezip.com/five-biggest-mistakes-new-homebuyers-make - Type: article - Author: LeeAnn Reynolds - Published: 2022-07-22T15:43:16+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage, Real Estate - Tags: first-time homebuyers, down payment, mortgage shopping Summary: The 20% down myth, why one morning of lender shopping can be worth $325 a month, and the credit moves that protect your closing - five mistakes to skip in 2026. Content excerpt: Buying your first house is exciting — and it is also one of the biggest financial decisions you will ever make, in a market that punishes sloppiness. With 30-year rates in the mid-6s in 2026, mistakes that were annoyances in the cheap-money era now cost real dollars every month. Here are the five biggest mistakes new homebuyers make, and how to avoid each one. Mistake #1: Assuming You Need a Huge Down Payment How many times have you thought, "I'd like to buy a house, but I just don't have enough saved up"? The 20% down payment is a benchmark, not a requirement. FHA loans require just 3.5% down with a credit score of 580 or higher, and mainstream conventional programs go as low as 3% down: Fannie Mae's HomeReady and Freddie Mac's Home Possible for buyers earning no more than 80% of their area's median income, and Conventional 97, which has no income cap but is generally reserved for first-time buyers. FHA underwriting also applies more forgiving debt-to-income treatment than many conventional loans. A smaller down payment can spring you from the renter's trap — where you can afford the monthly payment but not the giant upfront check — and it leaves cash for the repairs and surprises that come with a new home. The trade-off is honest: low-down-payment loans generally carry mortgage insurance until you build more equity (putting 20% down on a conventional loan avoids it). Our guide to the best mortgages for first-time buyers walks through which program fits which situation. Mistake #2: Settling for the First Lender One quote is not shopping. On a single morning in early September 2026, posted 30-year rates across the lenders RateZip tracks spanned 1.25 percentage points — a gap worth about $325 a month on a $400,000 loan. That spread, on one day, is bigger than anything the market itself typically does in a week of headlines. And the system is built for comparison: within three business days of your application, every lender must send you a standardized Loan Estimate, so offers line up figure by figure — rate, points, fees, cash to close. Collect at least three and read them side by side, starting from current mortgage rates . … ## Four Tips for Avoiding Checking Account Fees in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/four-tips-for-avoiding-checking-account-fees-21017 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-07-24T09:00:31+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Savings - Tags: checking accounts, bank fees, overdraft fees, online banking Summary: Almost half of basic checking accounts are free and nearly all can be made free. Four moves to get monthly, overdraft and ATM fees to zero in 2026. Content excerpt: Watching a paycheck land and then leak away to bills is frustrating enough. Watching the bank take a slice of what is left, for the privilege of holding it, is worse. The good news is that checking fees are now mostly optional. In Bankrate's 2025 checking survey, 47% of noninterest checking accounts charged no monthly fee at all, and 95% were either free or could be made free through an easy waiver. If you are still paying, one of the four moves below will almost certainly fix it. The stakes are small per month and real per year. Bankrate puts the average monthly fee at $5.47 for basic noninterest checking and $15.65 for interest-bearing checking, which works out to roughly $66 to $188 a year for an account that is supposed to be a utility. Overdraft and out-of-network ATM charges can add more than that in a single bad month. 1. Meet the waiver, and make sure it is the right waiver Most banks that charge a monthly fee will drop it if you clear a simple bar. The two standard versions are a qualifying direct deposit each statement period, or a minimum daily or average balance. Older advice quoted a specific dollar amount of direct deposit; do not rely on that. Requirements differ by bank and by account tier, and they change, so read your account's current fee schedule and pick the waiver you can meet without thinking about it. For most people that is direct deposit: set it up once through your employer and the fee disappears every month on its own. If your income is irregular or comes from several sources, a balance waiver can work, but be honest about whether you will keep that cushion in checking year-round. A waiver you miss two months a year is a fee with extra steps. 2. Ask what accounts you qualify for Banks and credit unions quietly offer fee-free or reduced-fee checking to particular groups: students, people under a certain age, seniors, active-duty and veteran military, and sometimes employees of a partner company or members of a professional association. Relationship accounts are the other version: keep a savings account, mortgage or car loan at the same institution and the checking fee goes away. … ## FSA vs. HSA: What's the Difference in 2026? URL: https://www.ratezip.com/fsa-vs-hsa-whats-difference-78062 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-12-24T09:00:52+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T23:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Insurance Rates - Tags: FSA, HSA, health insurance, tax-advantaged accounts Summary: Health FSA limit $3,400 with a $680 carryover; HSA $4,400 self / $8,750 family and portable for life. Eligibility, use-it-or-lose-it, limited-purpose FSAs, and how to pick. Content excerpt: A flexible spending account and a health savings account do the same headline job: they let you pay medical bills with money that was never taxed. Past that, they are different animals. One belongs to your employer's plan and expires; the other belongs to you and can grow for decades. Which one you can use depends mostly on your health plan, and which one you should use depends on how you spend on care. Health FSA: use it this year A health FSA is offered only through an employer, and it works with any kind of health plan; you do not need a particular deductible to qualify. You choose an annual election during open enrollment, the money comes out of your paycheck before income and payroll taxes, and you spend it on deductibles, copays, prescriptions, dental and vision care and other qualified expenses. The full election is typically available on the first day of the plan year even though you fund it paycheck by paycheck, which makes an FSA useful for a known expense early in the year. For plan years beginning in 2026, the salary-reduction limit is $3,400, up from $3,300 in 2025. The catch is the use-it-or-lose-it rule. Money you have not spent by the end of the plan year is forfeited, and your employer is not permitted to refund it. Plans can soften this in one of two ways, but not both: A grace period of up to two and a half months after the plan year ends, during which you can keep spending last year's balance. A carryover of unused funds into the next year, capped at $680 for 2026 plan years. The carryover option started at $500 when the IRS created it in 2013 and is now indexed. Your plan may offer one, the other, or neither; the plan documents say which. Elections generally cannot be changed midyear without a qualifying life event, and the account stays with the employer's plan if you leave. Plan the election around expenses you are confident you will have. HSA: keep it for life An HSA is available only if you are covered by a high-deductible health plan and have no other disqualifying coverage. For 2026 a plan qualifies as an HDHP with a minimum deductible of $1,700 for self-only coverage or $3,400 for family coverage, … ## Getting a Car Loan? Watch Out for Yo-Yo Financing URL: https://www.ratezip.com/getting-a-car-loan-watch-out - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-02-12T12:27:14+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Auto Loans - Tags: auto loans, yo-yo financing, car dealers Summary: The dealer calls after you drive off: the financing 'fell through,' sign a worse loan. How yo-yo sales work in 2026, what state law says, and how to avoid the call. Content excerpt: The scenario is all too common. A buyer with less-than-perfect credit picks out a car, the dealer says the credit is approved, the paperwork is signed and the buyer drives home. Days or weeks later the phone rings: the financing "fell through," and the car has to come back — unless the buyer signs a new contract at a higher rate, with a bigger down payment or a longer term. Facing the loss of the car, the down payment and sometimes a trade-in that has already been sold, most people sign. That pressure is the point. What a yo-yo sale is This is spot delivery, also called yo-yo financing. The dealer lets you take the car before a lender has actually agreed to buy your loan, usually under a "conditional delivery" clause in the paperwork that says the sale can be unwound if financing is not approved. Sometimes the approval genuinely falls through. Often the dealer simply shops the contract to lenders after you leave and comes back with whatever terms make the dealer the most money, betting that a buyer who has already shown the car to the neighbors will not give it back. A second lever makes the replacement contract worse than it needs to be: when a dealer arranges your loan, the lender typically approves you at one rate and the dealer may write the contract at a higher one, keeping part of the difference. That markup is a standard, largely invisible part of dealer-arranged financing, which is why a "the bank needs a higher rate" call can be partly true and still cost far more than the bank required. The federal rule that was supposed to fix this is gone The Federal Trade Commission's CARS Rule was meant to set national standards for how dealers price and finance vehicles. It never took effect: the Fifth Circuit vacated it on January 27, 2025, and the FTC formally withdrew it effective February 12, 2026, without proposing a replacement. The agency has not gone quiet — in March 2026 it sent warning letters to 97 dealer groups over advertised prices that leave out mandatory fees — but there is no federal rule specific to spot delivery. That leaves state law as the main protection, … ## Got Gas? Twelve Tips to Save at the Gas Pump URL: https://www.ratezip.com/got-gas-twelve-tips-to-save-at-the-gas-pump - Type: article - Author: LeeAnn Reynolds - Published: 2022-04-28T14:51:32+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Savings - Tags: gas savings, saving money, car costs Summary: Twelve durable ways to spend less on gas: price apps, combined trips, tire pressure, smoother driving, and rewards cards used right. Content excerpt: Gas has a talent for eating a budget: it is one of the few things you buy every single week at whatever price the sign says. You cannot control the sign. You can control how much fuel your life burns and where each gallon comes from — and that is where the savings live. Here are twelve tips that work no matter what gas costs this year. 1) Find the Cheapest Gas Prices at stations a few minutes apart can differ more than you would expect, and paying the higher price buys you nothing. Apps like GasBuddy and Waze show nearby prices in real time, so make a habit of glancing before you drive to the pump — over a year of fill-ups, the habit quietly pays for itself. 2) Combine Your Trips Three separate errands mean three cold starts and three sets of miles; one loop means one. Engines run least efficiently when they are cold, and every mile you do not drive is fuel you do not buy — so batch your errands and plan the route before you leave. Fewer trips also means less time in the car, making this the rare savings tip that gives you your afternoon back. 3) Clean Out Your Car The more your car and its contents weigh, the more fuel it takes to move, and most of us are hauling around cargo we forgot about — sports gear, tools, that box that never made it to the donation drop-off. Keep the emergency kit; evict the rest. While you are at it, take off the roof box or rack you are not using: the extra drag costs you fuel at highway speed even when it is empty. 4) Get a Cash-Back Credit Card A rewards card that pays extra cash back at the pump turns a cost you cannot avoid into a small automatic rebate. One giant caveat: the math only works if you pay the balance in full every month. With the average credit card APR running 22.15% in 2026, a carried balance devours pump rewards many times over. 5) Or, Pay Cash Instead Many stations post a lower price for cash than for cards, because card transactions cost the station money. If a station near you offers a cash discount, weigh it against whatever your rewards card pays back — one of the two is the better deal at each station, and it costs nothing to notice which. … ## Having a Good Credit Score Will Unlock These Life Hacks URL: https://www.ratezip.com/having-a-good-credit-score-will-unlock-these-life-hacks - Type: article - Author: LeeAnn Reynolds - Published: 2022-08-05T18:54:50+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Insurance Rates, Mortgage, Savings - Tags: credit score, auto loans, credit cards, insurance Summary: What good credit unlocks in 2026: the cheap end of a 1.25-point mortgage spread, ~4.55% auto loans against 6-11% averages, better card APRs, lower premiums. Content excerpt: Have you checked your credit score lately? A good score is a quiet discount on almost everything big you will ever finance — and in 2026 the gaps between what strong-credit and weak-credit borrowers pay are wide enough to measure. If you've been paying every bill on time and keeping balances low, here is what that discipline actually unlocks. 1. The Cheap End of the Mortgage Market Mortgage lenders price by risk, and your credit score is one of the biggest levers deciding which end of the market you're offered. The stakes in 2026: with 30-year rates running in the mid-6s, posted offers across the lenders RateZip tracks spanned 1.25 percentage points on a single early-September morning — a gap worth about $325 a month on a $400,000 loan. A strong score is your ticket to the cheap end of that spread. And if your score has improved since you got your current mortgage, it can pay to re-shop through a refinance. Either way, start by comparing current mortgage rates . 2. Cheaper Car Loans — and Personal Loans Too In early 2026, auto loan rates averaged 6.39% on new cars and 11.43% on used — but borrowers with excellent credit were landing new-car loans closer to 4.55%. That is the unlock in one line: the average is not what you pay; your score decides your lane. The same sorting happens with personal loans, where three-year APRs averaged around 13.4% with origination fees running 1%–8% — strong credit earns the low end of both. See where personal loan rates stand in 2026 before you borrow. 3. Better Credit Card Offers The average APR on credit card accounts actually accruing interest ran 22.15% in mid-2026, and many new offers sit above 25%. Good credit gets you the offers worth having: lower rates, higher limits that keep your utilization down, and access to 0% balance-transfer windows of 12–21 months if you ever need to dig out of a balance instead of feeding it. 4. Lower Insurance Premiums in Most States Your score's reach extends beyond borrowing. Most states allow insurers to use credit-based insurance scores when setting premiums, so a strong credit history often means cheaper coverage — California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts, … ## HELOCs Near 7.25% in 2026: Tapping a Record $34.5 Trillion in Home Equity URL: https://www.ratezip.com/heloc-home-equity-2026 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2026-06-05T09:00:00+00:00 - Modified: 2026-07-31T19:05:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage, Loans - Tags: heloc, home equity, 2026 outlook Summary: U.S. homeowners hold about $302,000 of equity each on average, and HELOC rates touched a three-year low early in 2026. How the borrowing math works now, and when a HELOC beats the alternatives. Content excerpt: American homeowners are sitting on roughly $34.5 trillion in home equity as of mid-2026 - near record territory, and about $302,000 per homeowner on average. What has changed this year is the cost of reaching it: HELOC rates dropped 78 basis points in January to a three-year low, and average around 7.25% at mid-year. Why the HELOC is 2026's default equity tool The math that made cash-out refinancing popular in 2020 is inverted. Most homeowners hold first mortgages far below today's ~6.5% market rate; a cash-out refinance would reprice the entire balance upward to extract the equity. A HELOC leaves the cheap first mortgage untouched and prices only the new borrowing - and you pay interest only on what you actually draw. At ~7.25%, a HELOC also undercuts the alternatives for big expenses: average personal loans run around 13-14%, and interest-accruing credit cards above 22%. For renovations, the interest may also be tax-deductible when the funds substantially improve the home securing the line - confirm specifics with a tax professional. The honest risk list Your house is the collateral. A HELOC converts unsecured problems into secured ones. Consolidating card debt into a HELOC only makes sense with the spending fixed first. The rate floats. Most HELOCs track the prime rate. The Fed is on hold and its next move is genuinely uncertain - 2026 projections have flagged a hike as possible. Budget the payment at a rate a point or two higher than today's. Draw-period complacency. Interest-only minimums during the draw years feel painless; the repayment-period jump surprises people a decade later. Pay principal from day one. Sizing it Lenders typically cap combined loan-to-value around 80-85%, so usable equity is meaningfully less than the headline number. The home equity calculator gives you the real figure in a minute. From there, compare HELOC offers against a fixed home equity loan - better for a one-time known expense - and, for homeowners 62 and older weighing retirement cash flow, against a reverse mortgage . If the pressure point is property taxes, heirs, or keeping the home in retirement, read the companion guide on reverse mortgages, heirs, and property taxes . … ## Identity Stolen? Freeze First — Then Follow This Recovery Checklist URL: https://www.ratezip.com/heres-what-to-do-if-your-identity-is-stolen-71265 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-10-17T09:00:00+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Credit - Tags: identity theft, credit freeze, fraud alert, credit reports Summary: The 2026 playbook: free credit freezes at all three bureaus, a one-year fraud alert, IdentityTheft.gov's recovery plan, weekly free credit reports, and the blocks that get fraudulent accounts off your file. Content excerpt: A collections call about a card you never opened. A loan denial that makes no sense. A data-breach letter offering you free monitoring. However you find out, the moment you suspect your identity has been stolen, the clock matters — and the playbook has gotten meaningfully better than it was a decade ago. Nearly everything below is free, and federal law is on your side at every step. Step 1: Freeze your credit at all three bureaus A security freeze blocks lenders from pulling your credit file for new applications, which stops most new-account fraud cold. Freezes have been free nationwide by federal law since 2018, they last until you lift them, and lifting one for a legitimate application takes minutes online. Unlike a fraud alert, a freeze must be placed with each bureau separately — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion all have to hear from you. Do this first; everything else can happen with the doors already locked. Step 2: Place a fraud alert — one call covers all three An initial fraud alert tells lenders to take extra steps to verify identity before opening credit in your name. It is free, lasts one year (it was a mere 90 days before the law changed in 2018), and is renewable. Here the rule is the reverse of freezes: place it with any one bureau and that bureau must notify the other two. Victims with a completed identity-theft report can later upgrade to an extended alert lasting seven years. Step 3: Report it at IdentityTheft.gov The FTC's IdentityTheft.gov generates two things you will need: a personalized recovery plan and an official FTC Identity Theft Report. That report is the document that unlocks your federal rights — including the power to make bureaus block fraudulent accounts and inquiries from your file rather than merely dispute them, and to force businesses to hand over records about accounts the thief opened. A police report is no longer required in most cases; it is still worth filing if you know the thief, the theft involves a crime you witnessed, or a creditor demands one. … ## High-Yield Savings in 2026: What a Fed on Hold Means for Your APY URL: https://www.ratezip.com/high-yield-savings-2026-fed-hold - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2026-06-29T09:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Savings, Banking - Tags: savings, high yield savings, federal reserve Summary: With the Fed holding rates steady through mid-2026, top savings APYs have plateaued near 4%. Why the gap between big banks and online banks is wider than ever, and when to move your cash. Content excerpt: Savings rates spent 2025 drifting down as the Federal Reserve cut three times. Then the cutting stopped - and so did the drift. Through the first half of 2026 the Fed has held steady, and top high-yield savings accounts have plateaued at APYs around 4%, with the most aggressive online banks somewhat higher. The plateau is an opportunity A Fed on hold means the rate you move to today is likely the rate you keep for a while. That changes the math on switching banks. When rates were falling monthly, chasing the top of the leaderboard felt futile; the leader's edge evaporated by the time your transfer settled. In a flat environment, the spread you capture persists. And the spread is enormous. Many large traditional banks still pay well under 1% on standard savings while online banks pay around 4%. On a $30,000 emergency fund, that is roughly $1,000 a year of interest you either collect or donate to your bank's shareholders. What to check before you move FDIC or NCUA insurance - non-negotiable. Every legitimate high-yield account has it; confirm at the institution level. Rate on your actual balance. Some banks tier rates or cap the promotional APY at a balance threshold. Withdrawal friction. Transfer speed matters for an emergency fund. A day or two is normal; longer is a problem. Teaser vs. standing rate. A 90-day promotional APY that collapses afterward is worth less than a durable rate a quarter-point lower. Savings account or CD? With CDs and savings paying similar rates in mid-2026, the decision is purely about time horizon: money you might need stays in savings; money with a known future date can lock a CD against the Fed's projected cuts in 2027. We walk through the full decision - including money market accounts and Treasury bills - in the saving and banking guide , and current top APYs are always on the Rate Index . ## Hit the Brakes on High Auto Insurance Payments: Eight Tips for 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/hit-the-brakes-on-high-auto-insurance-payments-with-these-eight-tips - Type: article - Author: LeeAnn Reynolds - Published: 2022-06-13T14:35:32+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Auto Loans, Insurance Rates - Tags: auto insurance, insurance discounts, saving money Summary: Full coverage now averages in the $2,300s a year. Eight ways to cut your auto premium — shop every renewal, right-size old-car coverage, stack discounts. Content excerpt: Auto insurance stopped being a rounding error in the household budget. Premiums surged roughly 17% in 2024, fell back some during 2025, and have held roughly flat in 2026 — but the new normal is expensive: full coverage now averages in the $2,300s a year. Because insurance is a legally required expense, it's tempting to treat it as a fixed one. It isn't. These eight tips can pull real money out of the bill without leaving you underinsured. 1. Get Insurance Quotes Before Buying the Car Premiums track the vehicle: its value, repair costs, safety record, and theft risk. Two cars at the same sticker price can insure very differently. If you haven't settled on a specific model yet, get quotes on your finalists first — a car with strong safety ratings and anti-theft features often carries cheaper coverage, and knowing the insurance cost before you sign can tip the choice between two otherwise similar vehicles. 2. Compare Multiple Carriers at Every Renewal The single most reliable way to lower your premium is to make insurers compete for it. Carriers weigh the same driver differently, and after the repricing of the past few years, the company that was cheapest for you in 2023 is often not the cheapest today. Make comparison a renewal-time ritual: pull at least three quotes on identical coverage limits, every time, even when nothing about your situation has changed. The auto insurance calculator can help you size the coverage you're quoting, and our look at auto insurance rates in 2026 explains why this is a particularly good moment to re-shop. 3. Choose a Higher Deductible — With Savings Behind It Raising your deductible lowers your premium, and if you never file a claim, that's pure savings. The catch: you have to be able to write the deductible check on a bad day without flinching. That makes this an emergency-fund question as much as an insurance one. If your cushion is thin, build it first — here's how much you really need in an emergency fund — and then harvest the lower premium with a clear conscience. 4. For Older Cars, Drop Coverage the Math Doesn't Support Collision and comprehensive only ever pay out up to the car's value, minus your deductible. … ## Home Business? What Your Homeowners Insurance Doesn't Cover URL: https://www.ratezip.com/home-business-homeowners-insurance-doesnt-cover - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-08-08T09:00:09+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T23:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Insurance Rates - Tags: homeowners insurance, home business, small business insurance Summary: Standard homeowners policies cap business property at $2,500 and exclude business liability. What remote workers and side hustles need: endorsement, in-home policy or BOP. Content excerpt: Working from home stopped being a novelty years ago. Whether you are a full-time remote employee, a freelancer, or someone running an online shop out of a spare bedroom, the odds are good that your homeowners policy was written for a household, not a business — and it draws that line more sharply than most people expect. Here is where a standard policy stops, what it will and will not pay for, and the three ways to close the gap. The business-property sublimit A standard homeowners policy covers your belongings under its contents section, but it caps anything used primarily for business at a small fixed amount. On the current edition of the ISO Homeowners 3 form, the template many insurers build their policies on, that cap is $2,500 for business property kept at the residence and $1,500 for business property away from it. Older editions of the same form allowed only $250 away from home, so the off-premises number has improved; the on-premises number has not moved. Twenty-five hundred dollars does not go far. A laptop, a monitor, a camera body and a couple of lenses can clear it before you count inventory, tools or a workshop in the garage. Business data stored on drives or media is excluded from the contents coverage outright, so the hard drive holding your client files is not covered as personal property at all. If the house burns, the policy rebuilds the structure and replaces the household goods; it does not rebuild the business. Liability is the bigger hole The property sublimit is the part people notice. The exposure that can actually wreck you is liability. The personal liability section of a homeowners policy is designed for the neighbor who slips on your icy steps, not for a client who trips on the way to a meeting in your home office, a delivery driver hurt picking up your shipments, or a customer injured by a product you made at the kitchen table. Claims that arise from business activity are generally excluded from a personal policy, which means a lawsuit lands on you with no insurer paying the defense costs. The test is not whether you have a storefront. It is whether money changes hands. … ## Pre-Qualified vs. Pre-Approved: What Each Home Loan Term Gets You in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/home-loan-terms-pre-qualified-vs-pre-approved-84946 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-02-19T09:00:52+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Loans - Tags: mortgage pre-approval, pre-qualification, rate lock, home buying Summary: Pre-qualification is an estimate, pre-approval is a documented commitment, and neither locks your rate. What each takes, how long a letter lasts, and how to shop safely. Content excerpt: Three terms get tangled together at the start of every home search: pre-qualification, pre-approval and rate lock. They are three different things, they happen at three different points, and the most common mistake buyers make is assuming that one of them delivers what only another one does. Here is what each actually gets you in 2026. Pre-qualification: an estimate Pre-qualification is the informal first step. You tell a lender, or an online tool, roughly what you earn, what you owe and what you have saved, and you get back a ballpark of how much you might be able to borrow. Nothing is verified. The lender may run a soft credit inquiry, which does not affect your credit score, or may not check your credit at all. That makes pre-qualification useful for exactly one thing: sizing your search. It tells you which price range to shop before you fall in love with a house outside it. It is not something a seller will act on, because it is built entirely on what you said. Before you even ask for one, run the numbers yourself; our guide to how much house you can handle walks through the arithmetic at 2026 rates. Pre-approval: a documented commitment Pre-approval is a real application. You fill out the loan application and hand over documents: typically 30 days of pay stubs, two years of W-2s and your two most recent bank statements, plus statements for any investment or retirement accounts you plan to draw on. The lender pulls your credit with a hard inquiry, checks your debt-to-income ratio against its guidelines, and issues a letter stating the loan amount it is prepared to make, subject to an appraisal and final underwriting on the specific home. The hard inquiry can lower your score by a few points, but the effect is temporary. The letter has a shelf life too: most pre-approvals are valid for 60 to 90 days, and some lenders write them for as little as 30. If your search runs longer, renewing usually means fresh pay stubs and bank statements and another hard pull, so time the pre-approval to when you are genuinely ready to make offers. A newer tier is worth knowing about. … ## Homeowners Insurance for Condo Dwellers: Know Your HO-6 Coverage Needs URL: https://www.ratezip.com/homeowners-insurance-for-condo-dwellers-know-your-coverage-needs-73112 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-07-10T08:00:27+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T23:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Insurance Rates - Tags: condo insurance, HO-6, homeowners insurance Summary: Condo owners need an HO-6 that fits the association's master policy: bare-walls vs all-in, loss assessment, lender rules, and what it costs in the latest NAIC data. Content excerpt: Buying a condo means buying into two insurance policies at once. The association carries a master policy on the building, funded through your monthly dues, and you carry your own policy on the unit — a form the industry calls the HO-6. Where one stops and the other starts is written into the association's declarations, not left to guesswork, and getting it wrong shows up on the worst possible day. Here is how to read the seam. What the master policy covers The master policy insures what the owners collectively own: the roof, the exterior, hallways, elevators, lobbies and the other common elements. How far it reaches into your unit depends on which of three structures the association chose, and the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner lays them out cleanly: All-in. The master policy covers the exterior and all interior finishes — doors, windows, cabinets, vanities, showers and tubs, paint, trim, light fixtures and floor coverings. Your policy mainly needs to cover belongings, liability and the master deductible. All-in, excluding improvements and betterments. Original finishes only. The builder-grade kitchen is covered; the quartz counters and hardwood the last owner installed are yours to insure. Bare walls, or walls-out. The association covers the structure up to the unfinished drywall and subfloor, plus everything outside the unit. Every finish inside — flooring, cabinets, fixtures, even the paint — is on your policy. Under all three, the unit owner is responsible for the master policy's deductible when a loss touches their unit, and that deductible can be large. Ask the association for the master policy's declarations page and its deductible before you close, not after. What your HO-6 covers An HO-6 has six working parts: dwelling coverage for the parts of the unit you are responsible for, personal property, loss of use if a covered loss makes the unit unlivable, personal liability, medical payments for guests hurt in your unit, and loss assessment. The base amounts are small. Wisconsin's insurance regulator notes that a standard HO-6 usually provides $1,000 of building coverage, … ## Will My Car Insurance Go Up After an Accident? URL: https://www.ratezip.com/how-accidents-total-insurance-rates-24233 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-08-15T09:00:13+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T23:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Insurance Rates - Tags: auto insurance, car accidents, accident forgiveness Summary: At-fault accidents raised premiums 45% in a 2026 LendingTree study. How fault, state rules, CLUE reports and accident forgiveness shape your rate, and when not to file. Content excerpt: The short answer: usually, if the accident was your fault, and by more than most drivers expect. The long answer depends on who caused the crash, how much damage it did, what state you live in, how clean your record was before it, and whether your policy carries accident forgiveness. Here is how each of those pieces moves the number, and when it makes sense to keep a small accident off the books. If the accident was not your fault Insurers surcharge drivers for accidents they cause. A crash the other driver caused should not by itself raise your rate, and California's regulations spell out the logic: a driver is only "principally at fault" when their actions were at least 51 percent of the legal cause of the accident. That is why documentation matters so much at the scene. Get the other driver's insurance and contact information, photograph everything, and let the police report establish fault rather than a handshake. If the other driver's story changes later, the report is what your insurer relies on. Not-at-fault does not mean invisible. The claim still enters your claims history, and the Texas Department of Insurance notes that while premiums can rise after claims and accidents, an insurer cannot charge you more for a claim that was never paid or for simply calling to ask what your policy covers. Ask questions freely; file deliberately. If fault is shared When both drivers contributed, insurers apportion fault between them, and your surcharge depends on which side of the line you land on. Under the California standard, a driver below the 51 percent threshold is not principally at fault; one above it is, provided the total damage exceeded $1,000. Other states draw their lines differently, but the mechanics are the same: someone assigns percentages, and those percentages drive the premium. If the accident was your fault Expect a real increase at renewal. A February 2026 LendingTree analysis of rates pulled in January found that auto premiums rise an average of 45 percent nationwide after an at-fault accident causing at least $2,000 in property damage — roughly $1,031 a year more, on full-coverage policies that already average in the $2,300s in 2026. … ## How Do Banks Work? How Banks Make Money on Your Deposits, and Why That Sets Your Rates URL: https://www.ratezip.com/how-do-banks-work - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-11-11T16:19:35+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T16:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage - Tags: how banks work, net interest margin, FDIC insurance, mortgage rates Summary: A bank borrows at one rate and lends at a higher one; the industry margin was 3.32% in mid-2026. Deposits, the Fed, FDIC limits, and why savings and mortgage rates differ. Content excerpt: If you are about to apply for a mortgage, or wondering why your savings account pays what it does, it helps to understand the business you are dealing with. A bank is, at its core, a company that borrows money from many people at one rate and lends it to other people at a higher one. Everything else, from FDIC insurance to the Federal Reserve to the mortgage rate you are quoted, hangs off that spread. Deposits are loans you make to the bank When you deposit money, the bank owes it to you on demand, and in exchange it pays you interest, or, at many large banks, almost none. The money does not sit in a vault. The bank lends it out: car loans, credit cards, business lines, mortgages. Its profit is the difference between what it earns on those loans and what it pays you. The industry-wide version of that spread is called the net interest margin. The FDIC's Quarterly Banking Profile put it at 3.32% for the second quarter of 2026, across 4,238 insured institutions that earned $90.1 billion in the quarter. On $10,000 of your deposits, a bank running at the industry margin earns roughly $332 a year in net interest. The 2014 version of this article used a 1% savings rate for its example. In 2026 the range is far wider: the best high-yield savings accounts pay about 4% and top CDs 4.3% to 4.5%, while many big traditional banks still pay under 1% on standard savings. That gap is the single most useful thing to know about how banks work. A bank with a large, loyal deposit base can pay very little and still fund its loans; an online bank without branches competes by paying more. On a $30,000 balance, 4% versus a big-bank rate below 1% is worth roughly $1,000 a year. Our guide to high-yield savings in 2026 covers where the good rates are and how long they may last. Why CDs pay more than checking A bank prices deposits by how reliable they are. Money in a CD is committed for a fixed term; the bank can lend against it with confidence, so it pays more. Savings balances are stickier than checking but still withdrawable, so they pay less. Checking balances turn over constantly and are the least dependable funding, which is why interest checking pays little or nothing. … ## How Long Should a Car Loan Be? 48 vs. 60 vs. 72 vs. 84 Months in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/how-long-should-it-be-39679 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-08-19T09:00:49+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T16:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Auto Loans - Tags: auto loans, loan term, car payment, negative equity Summary: The average new-car loan now runs about 69 months and a third go past 72. What each extra year costs on a $43,610 loan at 6.35%, and how to match the term to your ownership. Content excerpt: When this article first ran in 2013, the alarming news was that banks had begun offering seven- and eight-year car loans. They are now ordinary. Experian's first-quarter 2026 data puts the average new-vehicle loan at about 69 months and the average used loan at nearly 68. More than 35% of new-car loans ran longer than 72 months, up from about 31% a year earlier, and a small but growing slice went past 85 months. The question is no longer whether a long loan is available. It is whether you should take one. What each extra year costs Take the average new-car loan of the second quarter of 2026: $43,610 financed at the average new-car rate of 6.35%. Standard amortization gives: 36 months: about $1,334 a month, $4,401 in total interest 48 months: about $1,031 a month, $5,887 in interest 60 months: about $850 a month, $7,403 in interest 72 months: about $730 a month, $8,948 in interest 84 months: about $644 a month, $10,521 in interest Stretching from 48 to 84 months cuts the payment by $387 but adds $4,634 in interest, and you are making payments for three extra years. The used-car version is worse because used rates are higher: on the period's average used loan, $27,852 at 11.19%, going from 48 to 84 months drops the payment from about $722 to $480 while total interest climbs from $6,824 to $12,441. The Federal Trade Commission puts it simply: the longer the loan, the more expensive the deal overall. The second cost: you buy more car The interest math is the obvious drawback. The original version of this article argued that the real killer is the second one, and that still holds. A long term makes an expensive car look affordable by the only number most buyers check, the monthly payment. Salespeople know this; the question "what payment are you looking for?" exists so the term can be stretched until the answer fits. That is how people end up car poor: the payment fits, but the car quietly consumes money that should have gone to savings, retirement or a bigger emergency fund. Average payments were $765 for new and $542 for used vehicles in the second quarter of 2026. If yours is far above that, the term is probably hiding the price. … ## How Mortgage Rates Work in 2026 (and How to Get a Better One) URL: https://www.ratezip.com/how-mortgage-rates-work-tips-for-getting-the-best-rate - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-10-03T20:52:53+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage - Tags: mortgage rates, rate shopping, 10-year Treasury Summary: Mortgage rates track the 10-year Treasury plus an MBS spread, not the Fed. Why 2025's three cuts left rates in the mid-6s, and how shopping saves real money. Content excerpt: A mortgage is a loan secured by the home itself — fall behind and the lender can ultimately take the property. That part everyone knows. What far fewer people can explain is where the rate on that loan comes from. It matters, because 2026 keeps proving the popular explanations wrong: the Federal Reserve cut its policy rate three times in 2025, then held through the first half of 2026 — and the 30-year mortgage spent the whole stretch in the mid-6s. The Fed doesn't set mortgage rates The Fed controls an overnight rate between banks. That moves credit cards and home-equity lines quickly, but a 30-year mortgage is priced in a different market entirely — which is how you get three Fed cuts and a mortgage rate that barely moved. An older myth pins mortgage rates to short-term Treasury bills; that one is even further off. The real driver is longer-term, and it has two parts. What actually sets the rate: the 10-year Treasury plus a spread Most 30-year loans don't stay with the lender that made them. They're pooled into mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and sold to investors, and those investors are always comparing MBS against the benchmark long-term safe asset: the 10-year U.S. Treasury note. A 30-year mortgage rate is therefore, roughly, the 10-year Treasury yield plus a spread — extra yield that compensates investors for risks Treasurys don't carry, above all the risk that homeowners refinance en masse the moment rates fall. Both halves move. The 10-year yield trades on inflation and growth expectations, typically pricing in Fed moves months before they happen — another reason cut day itself changes so little. And the spread isn't constant: through 2024–26 it has run well wider than its long-run norm, a quiet but real part of why mortgage rates stayed high even as the Fed eased. When MBS prices rise, mortgage rates fall; when investors demand more yield, the quote on your screen goes up — sometimes the same afternoon. Where rates stand, anchored to 2026 Freddie Mac still publishes its long-running weekly survey of lender rates, the Primary Mortgage Market Survey, and through August 2026 it showed the 30-year fixed holding in the mid-6s. … ## How Much House Can You Handle in 2026? URL: https://www.ratezip.com/how-much-house-can-you-handle-12665 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-08-08T09:00:04+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage - Tags: home affordability, 28/36 rule, home buying Summary: The 28/36 rule done right, why a preapproval is not a rate lock, and the practice-payment test that reveals your real number before a lender does. Content excerpt: The question used to be pleasant. In 2026 it has teeth: the median existing home runs about $429,300, 30-year mortgage rates have spent the year in the mid-6s, and the gap between what a lender will approve and what a budget can absorb has rarely mattered more. Affording a home now is less about finding a bargain and more about knowing, precisely, how much house you can handle. (For the full market picture, see our guide to buying a home in mid-2026 .) Run your own numbers before anyone else does A lender's approval tells you what they'll lend, not what you can comfortably repay — and those are different numbers. Underwriting sees gross income and reported debts; it doesn't see childcare, an aging car, a thin emergency fund, or the retirement contributions you'd quietly pause to make a bigger payment fit. So before you talk to an agent or a loan officer, build the budget yourself: take-home pay, every debt payment, fixed expenses, and a brutally honest accounting of discretionary spending. A mortgage calculator turns those inputs into a price range in minutes. The discipline is in the inputs. The 28/36 rule, stated correctly The classic affordability guideline is the 28/36 rule: keep total housing costs at or below 28% of gross monthly income, and all debt payments combined — housing plus car loans, student loans, credit cards — at or below 36%. Two notes. First, housing costs means the whole payment: principal, interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance, HOA dues, and mortgage insurance if you put down less than 20%. Second, a lender may approve you well above these lines. That isn't a green light; the approval protects the lender's downside, not your lifestyle. Rates set the price of every borrowed dollar At mid-6s rates, the interest rate does as much to set your range as your income does: the higher the rate, the smaller the loan a given monthly payment can carry. That's exactly why affordability tightened so sharply as rates climbed to their late-2023 peak near 8%. Rerun your numbers whenever rates move meaningfully, … ## How to Calculate Your Mortgage Payment: The Formula and a 2026 Example URL: https://www.ratezip.com/how-to-calculate-your-mortgage-rate-and-payment - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-12-01T20:27:14+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage - Tags: mortgage payment, amortization, PITI, mortgage math Summary: The fixed-payment formula worked through on a $400,000 loan at 6.5% ($2,528.27 a month), why the payment uses the note rate not the APR, and what taxes and insurance add. Content excerpt: A mortgage payment looks like one number on a statement, but it is built from at least two parts and often four. Principal and interest come out of a formula with only three inputs: how much you borrow, the interest rate, and how many months you have to repay it. Property taxes and homeowners insurance are stacked on top. Once you understand those pieces you can check any lender's quote yourself, and you can see exactly why a 30-year rate in the mid-6s, where the market has spent 2026, produces the payments it does. First, the rate you use is not the APR This trips up a lot of explainers, including the 2014 version of this article. The interest rate (the note rate) is the cost of borrowing the principal, and it is the number that goes into the payment formula. The APR reflects the interest rate plus points, broker fees and other charges, so it is usually higher than the rate. The APR exists to compare offers, not to compute your payment. Two lenders quoting the same 6.5% rate can show different APRs because one charges more in fees; their monthly payments are identical. Our mortgage-basics guide has a fuller explanation of interest rate versus APR . The formula For a fixed-rate mortgage, the monthly principal-and-interest payment is: M = P [ r(1 + r)^n ] / [ (1 + r)^n - 1 ] P is the loan amount, the principal. r is the monthly interest rate: the annual note rate divided by 12. n is the number of monthly payments: 360 for a 30-year loan, 180 for a 15-year loan. The formula looks intimidating because it does two jobs at once. It charges interest on the outstanding balance every month, and it sizes the payment so that the balance reaches exactly zero on the last one. That second job is what makes the payment level even though the balance shrinks the whole time. A 2026 worked example Take a $400,000 30-year loan at 6.5%, a rate consistent with where 30-year mortgages have traded through 2026 (Freddie Mac's weekly survey put the average at 6.71% in the first week of September 2026). r = 0.065 ÷ 12 = 0.0054167 n = 360 (1 + r)^360 = 6.9918 M = $400,000 × 0.0054167 × 6.9918 ÷ … ## How to Deal With Serious Debt: Every Option Before Bankruptcy URL: https://www.ratezip.com/how-to-deal-with-serious-debt-99967 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-10-08T09:00:12+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T16:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Credit - Tags: debt, credit counseling, bankruptcy Summary: Card APRs average 22.15% in 2026 — $10,000 can cost about $8,200 in interest. Hardship programs, nonprofit counseling and consolidation all come before bankruptcy. Content excerpt: Nobody plans to end up with debt they cannot manage. It creeps: a lean year, a medical bill, a stretch of minimum payments — and suddenly the monthly obligations outrun the monthly income. At 2026 card rates the treadmill runs fast: the average APR on credit card accounts actually accruing interest is 22.15%, and a $10,000 balance at 22% paid at $250 a month costs roughly $8,200 in interest and takes about six years to clear. When the math looks like that, bankruptcy starts to look like the only exit. Usually it is not — it is the last rung on a ladder most people never fully climb. Here is the ladder, in order. 1. Stop the debt from growing The old advice was to cut up your cards. The 2026 version is better: open your issuer's app and lock or freeze each card . The accounts stay open — which protects your credit history and available-credit math — but new charges are blocked, and unfreezing takes just enough friction to interrupt an impulse. Shift day-to-day spending to a debit card or cash while you work the plan. Nothing below matters if the pile is still growing. 2. Call your creditors — hardship programs are real Card issuers and lenders maintain hardship programs for exactly this situation: reduced interest rates, waived fees, or structured payment plans for borrowers in trouble. You generally have to call and ask, and it helps to ask before you miss payments rather than after. Explain the situation plainly, ask what hardship options exist, and get any agreement in writing. Not every creditor will bend, but many would rather adjust your terms than watch the account default. 3. Bring in a nonprofit credit counselor Nonprofit credit counseling agencies — look for affiliation with the National Foundation for Credit Counseling — will review your budget and options at little or no cost and tell you honestly which path fits. For heavy card debt, their workhorse tool is the debt management plan : one monthly payment to the agency, which pays your issuers under negotiated concessions — often meaningfully reduced interest and waived fees — typically over three to five years. Accounts on the plan are usually closed, which stings in the short run, … ## How to Get Cheap Life Insurance in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/how-to-get-cheap-life-insurance-39365 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-07-02T17:19:23+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T23:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Insurance Rates - Tags: life insurance, term life insurance, insurance costs Summary: Term instead of permanent, right-sized coverage, an early application, and no-exam underwriting up to $5 million at some carriers: how to cut a life insurance premium in 2026. Content excerpt: Life insurance is priced on five things: how much coverage you buy, how long it lasts, what kind of policy it is, how old you are when you apply, and what the insurer finds in your medical file. Every one of those is at least partly in your control. Getting cheap life insurance is mostly a matter of not overpaying on the first three and not waiting on the last two. Buy term for the years that need covering Term life covers you for a set period and pays only if you die during it. Ten-, 15-, 20- and 30-year terms are standard; 35- and 40-year terms exist but are rare. If you outlive the term there is no payout, and that is exactly why it is cheap: the insurer is pricing a limited window of risk, not a certainty. Permanent policies build cash value and last for life, and they cost many times more for the same death benefit. For the ordinary job of protecting a family while the kids are young and the mortgage is large, term does the work at a fraction of the price. The full comparison is in Term Life vs. Whole Life: Pros and Cons . Right-size the amount Not everyone needs $1 million of coverage. Add up what your death would actually cost the people who depend on you: the income they would need replaced and for how long, the debts that would land on them at once, childcare and college if children are involved, and final expenses. Subtract savings and any group coverage you would keep. Whether your partner works, and could keep working, changes the number a lot. A benefit sized to that sum is cheaper than a round number picked from a commercial, and it is not underinsurance; it is the right amount. Right-size the term, or ladder it Coverage should last until the last big obligation ends, not longer. That is a separate decision with its own traps, covered in How Long Should Your Life Insurance Policy Last? One refinement worth pricing: instead of one large 30-year policy, buy two policies of different lengths so that coverage steps down as your obligations do. A 30-year policy sized to the mortgage plus a 20-year policy sized to the child-raising years means you stop paying for the second block of coverage the year its job is done. … ## How to Get the Best CD Rate in 2026 — and Lock It Before the Fed Cuts URL: https://www.ratezip.com/how-to-get-the-best-cd-rate-63153 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-07-15T16:37:43+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Todays Cd Rates - Tags: CD rates, certificates of deposit, savings Summary: Top CDs pay roughly 4.3%-4.5% APY in 2026, but the average CD pays far less. How to shop nationally, compare APY instead of rate, and use promo and bump-up CDs while the locking is good. Content excerpt: Certificates of deposit are having their best stretch in years. Top nationally available CDs pay roughly 4.3%–4.5% APY in 2026 — but the average CD pays far less, and the gap between a good rate and a lazy one is wider than it has been in a long time. With the Federal Reserve having cut three times in 2025 and projecting a lower policy rate by early 2027, the case for locking a strong CD rate is unusually clear. Here is how to find one. 1. Shop nationally, not just locally The single biggest rate mistake is walking into the branch where you already bank and taking whatever is on the board. Online banks and credit unions routinely out-pay large traditional banks by multiple percentage points on deposits — the same institutions paying under 1% on standard savings are often uncompetitive on CDs too. Any FDIC-insured online bank or NCUA-insured credit union protects your deposit to the same $250,000 per depositor, per institution, per ownership category as a branch on Main Street. 2. Compare APY, not the posted rate Banks quote both a rate and an annual percentage yield. The APY accounts for how often interest compounds, so it is the number that lets you compare two offers directly. A CD that compounds daily at a slightly lower rate can beat one that compounds annually at a slightly higher one. When you line up offers, line up APYs. 3. Decide your term with the rate cycle in mind The old rule — longer term, better rate — is not reliable in 2026. With markets expecting rate cuts, many banks pay as much or more on a 1-year CD than a 5-year. That flips the logic of the long CD: you are no longer stretching for extra yield today, you are insuring the yield you can get today against the 2027 and 2028 renewal rates nobody can promise. Lock a multi-year CD near 4.4% now and you keep earning it even if new-issue CDs pay 3.5% at your first renewal. Our full framework is in CD Rates in 2026: Lock Now, or Stay Liquid? 4. Use promotional and bump-up CDs — carefully Promotional CDs are limited-time rates banks use to attract deposits, often on odd terms like 9 or 13 months. They are frequently the best APY on the menu. … ## How to Lower Your Credit Card Interest Rate in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/how-to-lower-your-credit-card-interest-rate-59930 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-11-23T09:00:15+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T16:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Credit - Tags: credit card interest rate, negotiate apr, balance transfer, credit card debt Summary: The phone script, how to escalate, what hardship programs really do, and balance-transfer math on a $3,500 balance at 2026 rates. Each 3-point APR cut saves about $105 a year. Content excerpt: Credit card interest is the most expensive debt most households carry, and in 2026 it is not getting cheaper on its own. The average APR on accounts that carry a balance was 22.15% in the second quarter of 2026, and many new offers are above 25%. At those rates a large share of every minimum payment goes to interest rather than to the balance. The good news is that the rate on your existing card is more negotiable than most people assume. This article covers how to ask, what to do when the first answer is no, and the two fallbacks — hardship programs and balance transfers — when negotiation does not get you there. What a lower rate is worth Take a $3,500 balance, a fairly ordinary number. At 22.15%, the interest for one month is about $64.60. Cut the rate by three points, to 19.15%, and the monthly interest drops to about $55.85. Another three points, to 16.15%, and it is about $47.10; at 13.15% it is about $38.35. Each three-point cut saves roughly $8.75 a month, or about $105 a year, on that balance, and the savings grow as the balance shrinks faster. That is not life-changing money on its own, but a rate cut takes one phone call, and it stacks with every other thing you do to pay the card down. Before you call Issuers lower rates for customers they want to keep. Three things make you that customer: a history of on-time payments on the account, a balance that is not at or over the limit, and a credit score that has held steady or improved since you opened the card. Pull your free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com (free weekly from all three bureaus) and confirm nothing is wrong on them. Then gather two facts: how long you have had the card, and what competing offers look like. A prequalified offer from another issuer, or a 0% balance-transfer offer in your mailbox, is your leverage. The script Call the number on the back of the card and ask for a lower interest rate. Keep it short and specific: "I've had this card since [year] and I've paid on time every month. My APR is [rate]. I've received offers at lower rates from other issuers, and I'd prefer to keep my business here. Can you lower my rate?" Then stop talking. … ## How to Protect Your Belongings With Renters Insurance in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/how-to-protect-your-belongings-with-renters-insurance-51376 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-07-19T15:37:51+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T23:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Insurance Rates - Tags: renters insurance, personal property, insurance basics Summary: Renters insurance averaged $173 a year in the latest NAIC data. What it covers, replacement cost vs. actual cash value, how much you need, and how to pay less. Content excerpt: Your landlord's insurance covers the building. It stops at your door. As the Insurance Information Institute puts it, a landlord's policy will not replace your personal possessions or pay your living expenses after a fire or a burst pipe — everything on your side of the threshold is yours to replace. Roughly six in ten renters carry their own policy, according to Triple-I's 2020 poll, the highest share it had ever recorded. The rest are self-insuring, usually without having decided to. What renters insurance actually covers A renters policy, the HO-4 form, has three jobs, and the belongings are only one of them. Personal property. Furniture, clothing, electronics, kitchen gear, bikes — what you own, at home and, within limits, away from it, subject to the policy's limit and its sublimits on categories such as jewelry. Liability. If a guest is hurt in your unit or your overflowing tub ruins the ceiling below, this pays the damages and the legal defense. Triple-I notes coverage typically starts around $100,000 and recommends $300,000. Policies also carry a small no-fault medical-payments allowance for a guest's minor injuries. Loss of use. If a covered loss makes the apartment unlivable, the policy pays the extra cost of living elsewhere while it is repaired. Renters skim past this line, and it is often the most valuable one. Actual cash value vs. replacement cost This is the choice that decides what the check looks like. In Triple-I's definitions, actual cash value pays to replace your possessions minus an amount for depreciation, up to the policy limit; replacement cost pays the actual cost of replacing them, with no deduction for depreciation, up to the limit. On a ten-year-old sofa and a five-year-old laptop, that is the difference between a new sofa and laptop and a check that buys neither. Replacement cost runs about 10 percent more than actual cash value, per Triple-I, and on a policy this size it is almost always worth it. How much coverage you need Nobody knows what your things are worth until they are added up, and there is no reliable average to borrow. Walk through the apartment with your phone, photograph every room, open the closets and drawers, … ## How to Use a High Insurance Deductible to Lower Your Premiums URL: https://www.ratezip.com/how-to-use-a-high-insurance-deductible-23563 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-04-14T17:05:57+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T23:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Insurance Rates - Tags: insurance deductible, auto insurance, homeowners insurance, HSA Summary: A $1,000 deductible can trim homeowners premiums up to 25% and collision coverage 40% or more, per Triple-I. The break-even math, where the cash sits, and the guardrails. Content excerpt: The deductible is the part of a loss you pay yourself before the insurer pays anything, and it is the one dial on a policy that trades money today for money tomorrow. Set it higher and the premium drops. Set it higher than you can cover and the first claim turns a discount into a crisis. What the deductible actually does On auto and home policies the deductible applies per claim. With a $500 collision deductible and a $3,000 repair, you pay the first $500 and the insurer pays the remaining $2,500. Deductibles apply to damage to your own property; they do not apply to the liability coverage that pays for injuries or damage you cause to others, so raising them never weakens the part of the policy that protects you from a lawsuit. Health insurance works differently: the deductible is an annual total across all your care, not a per-incident charge, and once you reach it the plan pays according to its cost-sharing terms until you hit the out-of-pocket maximum. That is why the health version of this strategy comes with its own account, covered below. What raising it saves The Insurance Information Institute publishes the ranges most people quote. On auto policies, moving the collision and comprehensive deductible from $200 to $500 can cut the cost of those coverages by 15% to 30%, and going to $1,000 can save 40% or more. On homeowners policies, most insurers recommend a deductible of at least $500, and raising it to $1,000 may save as much as 25%. The dollar savings depend on your premium, so ask your insurer to quote $500, $1,000 and $2,500 side by side before you decide. The break-even math A higher deductible is a good deal when the premium you save over the years between claims exceeds the extra amount you would pay on a claim. Put it as a formula: Break-even (years) = increase in deductible ÷ annual premium saved Suppose raising an auto policy's collision and comprehensive deductible from $500 to $1,000 trims $150 a year off the premium. The extra exposure is $500 per claim. $500 ÷ $150 is about 3.3 years: if you typically go longer than that between collision or comprehensive claims, the higher deductible comes out ahead, … ## Insurance Tips for Students and Parents: A Back-to-College Checklist URL: https://www.ratezip.com/insurance-tips-for-students-and-parents-86151 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-08-26T09:00:38+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T23:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Insurance Rates - Tags: college students, renters insurance, auto insurance, health insurance Summary: Health coverage to 26, whether a parent's homeowners policy covers the dorm (usually up to 10% of contents), distant-student auto discounts, and when to buy a renters policy. Content excerpt: A student moving into a dorm or an off-campus apartment does not usually need a whole new set of insurance policies. Most of what they need is already in place through their parents, but only if someone checks the terms and makes a few phone calls. Here is how the three coverages that matter, health, belongings and car, typically handle a student living away from home, and what to confirm with your own insurer. Health insurance A child can stay on a parent's job-based health plan until age 26. That holds even if the student is married, has a child of their own, starts or leaves school, lives away from home, is no longer a tax dependent, or turns down coverage from their own employer. Job-based plans set their own rule for exactly when coverage ends around the 26th birthday, so ask the plan administrator; marketplace plans cover a child through December 31 of the year they turn 26, or the age your state permits. Staying on the family plan is usually the most comprehensive option, but check the network. If the parents' plan is an HMO or has a narrow network, a student attending school in another region may have in-network access only for emergencies, which is the case where a school-sponsored student health plan earns its keep. Many schools require enrolled students to carry health coverage and ask for proof of other insurance to waive the school plan, so watch for that deadline in the summer paperwork. For a student who cannot stay on a parent's plan, the marketplace has an option built for this age group. Catastrophic plans are available to people under 30, and to anyone with a hardship or affordability exemption. They cover the same essential health benefits as other marketplace plans, include free preventive care, and pay for at least three primary care visits a year before the deductible is met; the deductible itself equals the plan's annual out-of-pocket maximum, so they are protection against a bad year, not a way to make routine care cheap. If the student qualifies for premium tax credits, a bronze or silver plan may be the better value, because the credits cannot be applied to a catastrophic plan. As of 2026, … ## Should You Open a Store Credit Card at Checkout? URL: https://www.ratezip.com/its-a-trap-15183 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-09-04T09:00:04+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T16:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Credit - Tags: store credit cards, deferred interest, credit card apr Summary: Store cards averaged 31.3% APR in 2024, the highest on CFPB record, and deferred-interest promos charge back interest if a dollar is left. Pros, cons and when to say yes. Content excerpt: The pitch comes at the register, when you are holding a full cart and a total you would rather not look at: open a store card today and take a percentage off this purchase. It is a well-timed offer, and it is not always a bad one. But the card behind it is a real credit card with some of the highest interest rates in consumer lending, and the decision deserves more than the fifteen seconds the cashier gives you. Here are the pros, the cons, and the rule for deciding on the spot. What a store card actually is Most store cards are private-label cards: issued by a bank on the retailer's behalf, usable only at that store or its family of brands, and often paired with a co-branded version that works anywhere. They are easier to get than general-purpose cards, which is why they are pitched so freely. They also cost more to carry. In its 2025 market report, the CFPB put the 2024 average APR on private-label store cards at 31.3%, against 25.2% for general-purpose cards, the highest figures in its series going back to 2015. A separate CFPB spotlight in late 2024 found the average retail-card APR had reached 32.66%. The same market report found that one in five private-label accounts made only the minimum payment, which is the customer the discount is designed to attract. The pros The sign-up discount. A percentage off a large purchase is real money if you would have bought the item anyway and you pay the statement in full. On a big-ticket purchase the one-time discount can exceed what a 2% flat-rate cash-back card would have returned. Ongoing perks. Cardholder-only sales, free shipping, extended return windows, and rewards that pay out in store credit. Worth something if you shop there regularly; worth nothing if you do not. Easier approval. If your credit is thin or bruised, a store card may be approved where a bank card is not, and it reports to the bureaus like any other revolving account. That makes it a legitimate credit-building tool, provided the balance is paid in full. The cons The APR. Above 30% on average, a store card is one of the worst places to carry a balance. The sign-up discount is one-time; … ## Home Equity Loan vs. HELOC in 2026: Which Fits What You're Paying For? URL: https://www.ratezip.com/its-your-home-know-what-youre-getting-into-11789 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-08-05T08:00:43+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage - Tags: home equity loan, HELOC, home equity, second mortgage Summary: Lump sum at a fixed rate, or a line you draw as you go? How home equity loans and HELOCs differ in 2026, what lenders let you borrow, and when the interest is deductible. Content excerpt: American homeowners are sitting on roughly $34.5 trillion in home equity in mid-2026, about $302,000 per homeowner on average. Two products let you borrow against it without touching your first mortgage: the home equity loan and the home equity line of credit, or HELOC. They are cousins, not twins. Both are secured by your house, and both can end in foreclosure if you stop paying. But they hand you the money differently, charge for it differently, and suit different kinds of expenses. Picking the wrong one is the most common mistake people make with home equity, and it is avoidable. Home equity loan: one check, one fixed payment A home equity loan is an installment loan. You borrow a set amount, receive it as a lump sum at closing, and repay it in equal monthly payments over a term written into the contract; terms vary by lender, so ask what is offered rather than assuming. The rate is normally fixed too, so the payment you sign for is the payment you make until the balance is gone. That predictability is the product's whole appeal. You know the cost on day one, the payment cannot move if market rates rise, and there is no temptation to keep borrowing because there is nothing left to draw. The flip side is rigidity: if the project runs over, you cannot simply take more. You would apply again, with a new closing. HELOC: a line you draw on as you go A HELOC is revolving credit secured by your home; it works much like a credit card with a far lower rate. The lender approves a maximum line. During the draw period you borrow what you need, when you need it, and interest accrues only on the amount outstanding; pay some back and it is available again. When the draw period ends, the repayment period begins and the balance amortizes over the remaining term, so the payment typically steps up. HELOC rates are usually variable, tied to a market index, so your cost moves with the market. They averaged about 7.25% in mid-2026 after a January drop of 0.78 of a point to a three-year low. That is the trade: flexibility and a lower starting cost in exchange for a payment that can change, and that usually rises when the draw period ends and principal comes due. … ## Know When to Walk Away From a Home Purchase URL: https://www.ratezip.com/know-when-to-walk-away-92861 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-09-17T09:00:50+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage - Tags: home buying, negotiating a home purchase, contingencies Summary: The real reasons to walk away from a home purchase: inspection, appraisal gap, financing, HOA or title surprises. Plus what 2026 buyer agreements change. Content excerpt: Buying a home is one long negotiation: the price, the closing date, who fixes the roof, who pays for what. Most of it is worth pushing through. But some deals should end, and the buyers who get hurt are usually the ones who fell in love with a house and kept going after the facts turned against them. Knowing when to walk away is a skill, and the rules buyers work under in 2026 give you more structure for it than the last generation had. Know the rules before you negotiate Since the National Association of Realtors settlement took effect on August 17, 2024, the way buyers work with agents has changed. Offers of buyer-agent compensation no longer appear in the MLS, and before an agent tours a home with you, you must sign a written buyer agreement that states what your agent will be paid. That compensation is negotiated directly between you and your agent. Sellers can still offer to cover some of it or make other concessions, but it is now a line item in your deal. Read the agreement before you sign, and know what, if anything, you owe your agent if a purchase falls through. On the financing side, a lender must deliver a Loan Estimate within three business days of receiving your application. Every lender uses the same form, so you can put two or three side by side and compare rate, fees and cash to close directly. With 30-year rates in the mid-6s through 2026, the spread between lenders on the same day is often bigger than the market's move from one day to the next, so this comparison is worth the paperwork. Signs it is worth staying at the table The seller responds quickly and gives ground. A fast counter that moves on price, closing date or repairs is a motivated seller. Keep going. The seller has somewhere to be. A seller who has already bought another home, taken a job in another city or is carrying two mortgages has a reason to make a deal. The gap is about terms, not facts. Disagreements over closing dates, appliances or the size of a repair credit are solvable. Disagreements about the condition of the house or what it is worth are a different category. Reasons to walk away Seller behavior is the soft signal. The hard signals come from your contingencies, … ## How Long Should Your Life Insurance Policy Last? URL: https://www.ratezip.com/long-life-insurance-policy-last-67197 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-05-19T09:46:20+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Insurance Rates - Tags: term life insurance, life insurance, policy term length Summary: Term life runs 10 to 30 years, with 35 and 40 rare. Match the term to your longest obligation, ladder policies as needs shrink, and why renewing later fails. Content excerpt: Most of the attention in a life insurance purchase goes to the coverage amount. The term, meaning how many years the policy lasts, gets decided in a sentence, and it is the decision people most often get wrong. Too short, and the coverage ends while someone still depends on you, at an age when replacing it is expensive or impossible. Too long, and you pay a higher premium for years nobody needed protecting. Here is how to size it. The menu Term life is sold in fixed lengths with a level premium for the whole period. The standard options are 10, 15, 20 and 30 years. Thirty-five- and 40-year terms exist, sold by a small number of insurers, but they are rare. Each step up in length costs more per month, because the insurer is locking in your rate through older, riskier years. Whole life, the alternative, lasts for life at a far higher premium; the trade-offs are in Term Life vs. Whole Life: Pros and Cons . Match the term to your longest obligation The right term is the number of years until the last person who depends on your income stops depending on it. Three obligations set that date for most households. The mortgage. If a spouse would struggle to carry the house alone, the policy should last until the loan is gone. A 30-year mortgage taken this year argues for a 30-year term, or a 20-year term if you genuinely expect to pay it down early. Whether that shorter payoff is realistic is the subject of 15-Year vs. 30-Year Mortgage: Which Saves You More in 2026? The youngest child. A child born today reaches adulthood in 18 years and, if you intend to see them through college, financial independence in their early twenties. Count from the youngest child, not the oldest, and round up to the next standard term: a newborn means 20 years at minimum, and 30 if you want a margin. Retirement. Once your savings could replace your income for a surviving spouse, the need for insurance fades. If you are 40 and expect to retire at 65, a 25-year gap points to a 30-year term. If you are 50 with a healthy nest egg, 10 or 15 years may be plenty. Savings shorten the answer. College accounts that are already funded remove the college years from the calculation; … ## Mortgage Letters of Explanation (LOX): 5 Common Triggers and How to Write One URL: https://www.ratezip.com/mortgage-confessions-5-wacky-letters-of-explanation-lox - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2015-05-19T14:05:36+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Featured, Mortgage - Tags: letter of explanation, mortgage underwriting, mortgage application Summary: Underwriters ask for a letter of explanation when the file has a gap: a large deposit, a late payment, a job gap. The five common triggers, what to say, and a template. Content excerpt: Somewhere between application and closing, many borrowers get a note from their loan officer asking for a "letter of explanation" — LOX or LOE in mortgage shorthand. It is not a bad sign. It means the underwriter found something the documents do not explain on their own and wants you to fill the gap in writing. Handle it well and the request costs you an afternoon; handle it badly and it can stall the file for weeks. Why underwriters still ask, even with automated approvals Most conventional loans run through an automated underwriting system, and lenders can now verify income, employment and assets electronically, pulling payroll and bank data with your authorization. That cuts paperwork, but it does not remove the human step: the automated finding comes back with conditions an underwriter must clear, and when a condition is "explain this," the software cannot answer for you. Large deposits, credit inquiries and employment gaps still generate letter requests in 2026. The five common triggers 1. Overdraft or insufficient-funds charges. On a purchase, the lender reviews your most recent full two months of bank statements, and every fee line is visible. Repeated overdrafts suggest a household running close to the edge. If yours were a one-time event, say so, explain the cause, and note what changed. 2. Late payments or collections. Payment history is the single largest component of a FICO score, so an otherwise clean file with one or two late payments gets a question. The underwriter wants the date, the account, the reason, and evidence that the account is current now. If the event was a bankruptcy or foreclosure, the calendar matters more than the letter: conventional guidelines impose waiting periods — generally four years after a Chapter 7 bankruptcy and seven years after a foreclosure, shorter with documented extenuating circumstances — and your letter is where those circumstances get documented. 3. Address or name discrepancies. Every document in the file should show the same person at the same address. A bank statement mailed to a parent's house, a pay stub under a former name or a credit report listing an address you never lived at all draw a request. … ## Mortgage Rates in Mid-2026: Stuck in the Mid-6s, and What Could Move Them URL: https://www.ratezip.com/mortgage-rates-2026-outlook - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2026-07-20T09:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage, Featured - Tags: mortgage rates, federal reserve, 2026 outlook Summary: The 30-year fixed sits near 6.5% in July 2026 after a February dip below 6%. Here is why rates are stuck, what the Fed is signaling, and what forecasters expect for the rest of the year. Content excerpt: If you have been waiting for mortgage rates to break decisively lower in 2026, the first half of the year has been a lesson in patience. The 30-year fixed averaged 6.55% in Freddie Mac's weekly survey in mid-July - up from a February low of 5.98%, but still about 19 basis points below the same week last year. That February dip mattered: it was the first sub-6% print in years, and borrowers who moved quickly locked meaningfully better payments. Since then, rates have drifted back into the mid-6s and stayed there. Why rates are stuck The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark rate three times in 2025, and mortgage rates followed part of the way down. But 2026 has been a different story. The Fed has held the federal funds rate steady all year, and its most recent projections leaned hawkish - policymakers now see a rate hike as more likely than a cut in 2026. Futures markets don't price the next cut until late 2026 at the earliest. Mortgage rates key off long-term Treasury yields more than the Fed's overnight rate, but the Fed's posture sets the tone. A central bank worried about inflation is a ceiling on how far mortgage rates can fall. What forecasters expect Fannie Mae's June 2026 housing forecast has the 30-year fixed hovering around 6.4% for the remainder of the year - essentially flat from here. No major forecaster currently projects a return to the February lows without a clear deterioration in the economic data. What to do with that Shopping for a home? Underwrite your budget at today's rate, not a hoped-for one. If rates fall later, refinancing is always available; if they rise, you locked well. See our buying-a-home guide for the full process. Watching for a refinance window? February proved these windows open and close fast. Know your target rate in advance and be ready to move. Our refinancing guide covers break-even math. Comparing offers? The spread between lenders on the same day is routinely wider than the market's move in a month. Check today's rates on the Rate Index and compare at least three quotes. Rates change daily - the numbers above reflect mid-July 2026. For current figures, the Rate Index is updated continuously. ## How Much Do You Really Need in an Emergency Fund — and Where to Keep It in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/much-really-need-emergency-fund - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-06-27T09:00:51+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Savings - Tags: emergency fund, high-yield savings, budgeting Summary: The 3-6 month rule, a worked example for a $3,000-a-month budget, and why parking the fund in a ~4% high-yield savings account means your safety net finally pays you back. Content excerpt: Almost everyone agrees you need an emergency fund. Almost nobody agrees on the number. Three months of expenses? Six? A year? The honest answer is that the right size depends on how fragile your income is — and in 2026 there is a second question that finally has a good answer: where the money should sit while it waits. Start with expenses, not income An emergency fund exists to cover what it actually costs to run your life, not to replace your paycheck dollar for dollar. Go through a typical month and separate the needs — housing, utilities, food, insurance, minimum debt payments, transportation — from the wants you would cut in a bad month, like streaming services, restaurants and travel. If the essentials come to $3,000 a month, that is your unit of measurement. The 3–6 month rule — and when to go past it For most households, three to six months of essential expenses is the standard target — $9,000 to $18,000 in our example. Where you land inside that range is about income stability: Closer to three months if you have a steady salaried job, a working partner, or strong disability and health coverage backstopping you. Six months or more if you freelance, earn commission, work in a boom-and-bust industry, are the sole earner, or own a home and a car that can each spring four-figure surprises. Advice that everyone needs nine to twelve months of expenses mostly dates to the years right after 2008. For a typical dual-income household it overshoots — and the extra thousands sitting in cash are dollars not paying down 20%-plus credit card debt or filling a retirement account. The 2026 difference: your emergency fund can pay you For most of the 2010s, an emergency fund earned effectively nothing, and keeping one was pure insurance. Not anymore. Top high-yield savings accounts pay around 4% APY in 2026, while many large traditional banks still pay well under 1% on standard savings. On an $18,000 fund, that is roughly $720 a year at 4% versus about $90 at half a percent — several hundred dollars annually for filling out one online application. A high-yield savings account at an FDIC-insured bank keeps the money one transfer away with no early-withdrawal penalty, … ## Do You Really Need to Pay Off Your Mortgage Early? The 2026 Math URL: https://www.ratezip.com/pay-off-your-mortgage-early-81283 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-01-10T09:00:31+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage - Tags: pay off mortgage early, mortgage prepayment, mortgage recast, personal finance Summary: At mid-6s rates, an extra dollar on your mortgage earns a guaranteed 6.5%, more than any savings account. When prepaying wins, what to fund first, and how recasting works. Content excerpt: When this article first ran in 2014, the argument against paying off a mortgage early was easy: rates were so low that almost any sensible investment was expected to beat them. That premise is gone. Thirty-year mortgage rates have spent 2026 in the mid-6s, and at that level an extra payment on your mortgage is one of the best guaranteed returns available to a household. The decision has not become automatic, though. Whether you should prepay in 2026 depends on what rate you actually hold, what else your money could be doing, and how much liquidity you are willing to give up. Prepaying is a guaranteed return equal to your rate Every dollar of principal you pay ahead of schedule stops accruing interest at your note rate, permanently, with no market risk and no tax on the saving. If your mortgage is at 6.5%, prepaying it is the financial equivalent of a risk-free investment yielding 6.5%. Compare that with the safe alternatives in 2026: top high-yield savings accounts pay around 4%, and the best nationally available CDs 4.3% to 4.5%, both before tax. On $400,000, savings at 4% earns about $16,000 in a year, while the first year of a 6.5% mortgage on the same $400,000 costs roughly $25,900 in interest. Safe money does not come close. Stocks are a different comparison. A diversified portfolio may out-earn a mid-6s mortgage over a long holding period, or it may not; nobody can promise a return, and the mortgage payment is still due in the years the market falls. Investing instead of prepaying at these rates is a bet on earning a spread, not the free lunch it looked like when mortgages were far cheaper. What extra payments actually do Take a $400,000 30-year loan at 6.5%. The required payment is $2,528.27 a month, and over the full term you would pay $510,177.95 in interest. Now add a fixed extra amount to every payment from month one: Extra $100 a month: paid off in 322 months, about 26.8 years, saving roughly $63,900 in interest. Extra $200 a month: paid off in 293 months, about 24.4 years, saving roughly $111,900. Extra $500 a month: paid off in 233 months, about 19.4 years, saving roughly $205,600. The lopsidedness is the point. … ## Personal Loan Rates in 2026: 3-Year APRs Near 13.4% - When Borrowing Makes Sense URL: https://www.ratezip.com/personal-loan-rates-2026 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2026-06-15T09:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Loans - Tags: personal loans, debt consolidation, 2026 outlook Summary: Average 3-year personal loan APRs sit around 13.4% in July 2026, roughly 9 points below average credit card rates. Where personal loans genuinely help, and where they quietly hurt. Content excerpt: Personal loan pricing has settled into a wide but stable range in mid-2026: average APRs on 3-year loans run around 13.4%, with 5-year terms averaging several points higher. Your actual offer depends overwhelmingly on your credit profile - strong-credit borrowers see single digits; weaker profiles can be quoted well above 20%, at which point the product usually stops making sense. The consolidation math still works The main event for personal loans in 2026 is credit card refinancing. With the average APR on interest-accruing card accounts above 22%, a borrower carrying $15,000 of card debt who consolidates into a 3-year loan near 13.4% saves roughly $2,000 in interest over the payoff - and converts an open-ended minimum payment into a fixed end date. That end date is worth as much as the rate: it is the difference between a payoff plan and a permanent balance. Two rules make consolidation actually work: The cards stay open but stop carrying balances. Consolidating and then re-running the cards up is how people end up with both the loan and the debt. Closing them can also work but may ding your credit utilization ratio. Compare the loan's APR to your blended card rate, after fees. Origination fees of 1-8% are common; a low headline rate with a big fee can lose to a plain higher rate. APR includes the fee - compare APRs, not rates. Where personal loans go wrong Financing discretionary spending - travel, weddings, upgrades - at 13% turns a want into a three-year obligation. And for home projects, homeowners usually have a cheaper tool: home equity lines are pricing around 7.25% in mid-2026, roughly half the personal-loan rate, for those with equity and patience for the process. See how much you could access with the home equity calculator . If a personal loan is the right tool, prequalify with several lenders - it uses a soft credit pull, and spreads between lenders on the same borrower are large. More on managing the debt side in our credit and debt guide . ## How to Cancel a Credit Card the Right Way (and When to Downgrade Instead) URL: https://www.ratezip.com/properly-cancel-credit-card - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-08-15T09:00:46+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Credit - Tags: credit cards, credit score, canceling a credit card Summary: Closing a card doesn't erase its history — the real risk is losing its credit limit. The right steps in order, plus downgrade and retention moves to try first. Content excerpt: Canceling a credit card is sometimes the right move. But the thing most people believe about it is wrong — and the belief hides both the real risk and a better alternative that often keeps the account alive without the annual fee. Here is how to think it through, and how to close the account cleanly if you still want to. What closing a card really does to your score The durable myth says that closing an old card immediately shortens your credit history. It does not. A closed account in good standing stays on your credit reports for roughly ten years and keeps counting toward the age of your history that entire time. You do not lose a decade of good behavior the day you make the call. The real and immediate effect is on credit utilization — the share of your available credit you are using. Close a card and its limit exits the math, so the same balances suddenly occupy a bigger slice of what remains. Say you carry $3,000 in balances across cards with $20,000 in combined limits: that is 15% utilization. Close a card with a $10,000 limit and the same $3,000 now sits against $10,000 — 30% utilization, double the ratio, without your owing a dollar more. Scoring models reward utilization below 30%, and lower is better, so the cleanest way to protect your score through a cancellation is to keep balances low everywhere else. Utilization is one of the three money mistakes that hurt your credit score most. Before you cancel: three moves that often beat it Downgrade instead. If the annual fee is the problem, ask the issuer for a product change to a no-annual-fee version of the card. The account stays open, its age and payment record keep working for you, the credit limit survives — and the fee is gone. No new application required. Ask for a retention offer. Before you say the word "cancel," tell the issuer you are considering it and ask what they can do. Issuers would often rather credit a fee or sweeten the card than lose the account — but the offer usually only appears if you ask. Time it around the annual fee. If a fee just hit your statement, act quickly — many issuers refund a just-posted annual fee if you cancel or downgrade promptly. … ## Should You Consolidate Your Debts? The 2026 Pros and Cons URL: https://www.ratezip.com/pros-and-cons-of-consolidating-your-debts-25717 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-08-29T09:00:26+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Loans - Tags: debt consolidation, credit card debt, personal finance Summary: Card APRs average 22.15% in 2026 — consolidating can save real money or quietly cost more. The honest pros and cons, plus three questions to answer first. Content excerpt: Consolidating your debts sounds like progress by definition — fewer bills, one payment, a fresh start. Sometimes it is exactly that. But consolidation is a tool, not a cure, and in 2026 the cost of getting it wrong is unusually high: the average APR on credit card accounts actually accruing interest reached 22.15% in the second quarter of 2026, and many new card offers run above 25%. Move that debt somewhere genuinely cheaper and you save real money. Move it carelessly and you can owe longer, and more. This article is about the decision itself — whether consolidating is the right move for you at all. If you want the full menu of methods, from balance transfers to debt management plans, every option is compared in our guide to the types of debt consolidation . What consolidation can genuinely buy you A much lower rate. This is the entire financial engine. Debt priced above 22% can often move to a 0% balance-transfer promotion running 12–21 months (for a one-time fee of typically 3%–5%), to a fixed-rate personal loan — three-year loans average about 13.4% in 2026 — or, for homeowners, to home equity priced around 7.25%. Every point of rate you shed goes to principal instead of interest. One payment you will actually make on time. Scattered due dates are how organized people collect late marks, and payment history is the single largest factor in your credit score. One predictable payment is easier to defend than five. An end date. Minimum payments on credit cards are designed to keep debt alive almost indefinitely. An installment loan amortizes: the same payment every month, and then it is over. For many people that finish line is worth nearly as much as the rate. Where consolidation goes wrong You can end up paying more. A lower rate stretched across enough extra years can still cost more in total interest, and fees erode the win — that 3%–5% transfer fee, or personal-loan origination fees that commonly run 1%–8%. Compare the total cost to payoff under each plan, never just monthly payment against monthly payment. Freshly emptied cards invite fresh debt. A consolidation loan pays your cards off but leaves them open. … ## Pros and Cons of Three Common Credit Card Rewards Programs in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/pros-and-cons-of-three-common-credit-card-rewards-programs-60562 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-11-25T09:00:01+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Credit - Tags: credit card rewards, cash back, airline miles, credit card APR Summary: Cash back (a flat 2% with no fee is the 2026 baseline), airline miles (blackout dates gone, dynamic pricing in) and hotel points, each weighed against card APRs above 22%. Content excerpt: Credit card rewards are genuinely better than they were a decade ago, and the marketing around them is louder. Cash back, airline miles and hotel points each suit a different kind of spender, and picking the wrong one leaves money on the table. But one number sits above all of it: the average APR on cards that carry a balance was 22.15% in the second quarter of 2026, and many new offers run above 25%. No rewards program survives that. If you carry a balance from month to month, the right card is the one with the lowest rate, and the comparison below is for the month you get to zero. Our escape plan for 22% card APRs is the place to start if that is you. Cash-back cards You earn a percentage of each purchase back as cash, usually as a statement credit or a deposit to your bank account. Pros: The baseline moved. In 2026 the mainstream benchmark is a flat 2% on everything with no annual fee, and several large issuers offer exactly that. Anything paying less on general spending needs a reason. Real welcome bonuses. A no-fee cash-back card commonly pays a $200 bonus after a modest amount of spending in the first few months. Flexibility. Cash is cash. There is no award chart, no seat availability and no hotel chain that has to be in the city you are visiting. Simplicity. A flat-rate card requires no thought. Category cards — higher rates on groceries, gas or rotating categories — can earn more for people who track them. Cons: Category cards need managing. Rotating categories typically have to be activated and cap the spending that earns the bonus rate. Miss the activation and you earn the base rate. The ceiling is lower. Two percent is a good floor, but a traveler who redeems carefully can get more value per dollar from points. Cash back wins on certainty, not on the maximum. The APR caveat. A 2% reward on spending you cannot pay off is erased many times over by interest above 22%. Airline miles cards You earn miles in one airline's loyalty program, or transferable points that can move into several programs, and redeem them for flights. Pros: Large welcome bonuses. … ## The Real Cost of Alternative Lending in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/real-cost-alternative-lending - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-06-16T09:00:35+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T23:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Loans - Tags: payday loans, title loans, buy now pay later, credit unions Summary: A $15-per-$100 payday loan is almost 400% APR. How payday, title, buy-now-pay-later and paycheck-advance products really price out, and the cheaper options in 2026. Content excerpt: Not every loan is created equal. Credit cards are expensive: the average APR on accounts that carry a balance was 22.15% in the second quarter of 2026. But there is a tier of borrowing where the price is not 22% a year but several hundred percent, and the products are built so that number never quite appears on the page. This is what alternative lending actually costs, and what to reach for instead. Payday loans: the $15 that is really 391% A typical payday loan charges a fee of $15 for every $100 borrowed, with the whole amount due on your next payday, usually two weeks out. State laws typically cap that fee somewhere between $10 and $30 per $100. Fifteen dollars sounds like 15% interest. It is not, because the loan lasts two weeks, not a year. There are 26 two-week periods in a year, and 26 times 15% is 390%, which is why both the CFPB and the FTC describe a $15-per-$100 two-week loan as an APR of almost 400% (the FTC's precise figure, on a 365-day year, is 391%). Roll the same $100 over every two weeks for a year and you pay $390 in fees on a loan that never shrinks. Auto title loans: your car is the collateral Title loans run 15 to 30 days and charge monthly finance fees of up to 25%, which the FTC puts at roughly a 300% APR. The difference from a payday loan is what you lose when it goes wrong. The lender holds the title and can repossess the car even after partial payments. When the CFPB studied single-payment title loans in 2016, the typical loan was about $700 at about 300% APR, more than four in five loans were renewed on the day they came due, and one borrower in five had the vehicle seized. The study is a decade old; the loan it describes is the one the FTC still warns about. Buy now, pay later: interest-free until it is not Split-pay checkout loans look free, and many of them are, as long as every installment lands on time. The CFPB's plain-language guidance is direct: while many BNPL loans do not charge interest, most charge late fees when you miss a payment; autopay pulled from a debit card or bank account can trigger overdraft or insufficient-funds fees; and missed or late payments can hurt your credit if the lender reports them. … ## Retirement Options for the Self-Employed: SEP-IRA vs. Solo 401(k) vs. SIMPLE IRA in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/retirement-options-for-the-self-employed-26440 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-10-18T09:00:19+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T23:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Savings - Tags: SEP-IRA, solo 401(k), SIMPLE IRA, self-employed retirement Summary: Self-employed? SEP-IRA (up to $72,000), solo 401(k) ($24,500 deferral plus employer share) and SIMPLE IRA ($17,000) compared: 2026 limits, deadlines and Roth options. Content excerpt: Being self-employed means no employer 401(k) and no match. It also means you get to be the employer, and the plans written for that role let you shelter far more than a plain IRA. The three that matter for most freelancers and small-business owners are the SEP-IRA, the solo 401(k) and the SIMPLE IRA. Here is how they compare under the 2026 limits; the full table is in 2026 Retirement Limits: 401(k) Rises to $24,500, IRA to $7,500 . SEP-IRA: the simplest, funded by the employer only A Simplified Employee Pension is a traditional IRA with a bigger door. Only the business contributes, up to 25% of compensation, with a 2026 ceiling of $72,000 and a compensation cap of $360,000. Contributions are pre-tax and discretionary: they can vary from year to year, including zero in a lean year. The catch for the self-employed is the definition of compensation: it is net earnings from self-employment minus half your self-employment tax minus the SEP contribution itself, worked through the rate table in IRS Publication 560. The effect is that a 25% plan rate equals about 20% of net self-employment earnings. On $100,000 of net earnings, that is roughly $20,000. A SEP can be opened and funded as late as the due date of your return, including extensions, which makes it the plan you can still set up after the year is over. Under SECURE 2.0, SEP contributions can go into a Roth IRA if your provider offers that election (it is not required to); a Roth SEP contribution is taxable income in the year it is made. If you have employees, a SEP must cover eligible workers, including anyone who earned at least $800 in 2026, on the same terms as the owner. Solo 401(k): the most room at moderate incomes A one-participant 401(k) is what the name says: a plan for a business owner with no employees to cover. Its advantage is that you contribute twice, wearing both hats: As employee: elective deferrals of up to 100% of compensation, capped at the 2026 deferral limit of $24,500. Savers 50 and older can add an $8,000 catch-up, for $32,500; those aged 60 to 63 get a higher $11,250 catch-up instead. As employer: up to 25% of compensation as defined for the plan, … ## Reverse Mortgages in 2026: The HECM Limit Rises to $1,249,125 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/reverse-mortgage-2026-hecm-limit - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2026-07-07T09:00:00+00:00 - Modified: 2026-07-31T19:05:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage, Featured - Tags: reverse mortgage, hecm, loan limits, retirement Summary: The 2026 HECM maximum claim amount is $1,249,125, up 3.26% from 2025. What the higher reverse mortgage limit means for owners of higher-value homes, and the rules that have not changed. Content excerpt: The FHA-insured reverse mortgage program got its annual reset for 2026: the HECM maximum claim amount is now $1,249,125, up from $1,209,750 in 2025. The new limit applies to FHA case numbers assigned on or after January 1, 2026. What the limit actually does The maximum claim amount is the cap on the home value a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage calculation can recognize. If your home is worth $900,000, the higher limit changes nothing for you - your full value was already counted. If your home is worth $1.4 million, the 2026 limit means roughly $39,000 more of your home's value enters the formula that determines how much you can borrow. Actual proceeds depend on three inputs: the youngest borrower's age, current interest rates, and the lesser of your home's value or the maximum claim amount. Higher rates reduce proceeds; the borrower must be 62 or older, per program rules. What has not changed Counseling is mandatory. HUD requires a session with an approved counselor before you can apply - a feature, not a hurdle. It is your best defense against the scam patterns we document here . You keep title and stay responsible for property taxes, insurance, and maintenance. Falling behind on those can still trigger repayment. The companion guide on reverse mortgages, heirs, and property taxes walks through that risk in detail. The loan comes due when the last borrower sells, moves out permanently, or passes away - and heirs retain options, including refinancing the balance or selling with any remaining equity going to them. Is 2026 a good year to look? Two crosscurrents. The higher limit and near-record home equity - U.S. homeowners hold roughly $34.5 trillion - argue for it. Interest rates in the mid-6% range argue for careful comparison, since rates directly reduce reverse proceeds. For many homeowners the right answer is comparing a reverse mortgage against a HELOC or home equity loan side by side; our comparison section walks through exactly that decision, and the home equity calculator shows what you are working with. Ready to see numbers? Compare reverse mortgage options here . ## Reverse Mortgages, Heirs, and Property Taxes: What Actually Happens in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/reverse-mortgage-heirs-property-taxes-2026 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2026-07-31T19:05:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage, Loans - Tags: reverse mortgage, home equity, heirs, property taxes, 2026 outlook Summary: How reverse mortgages interact with property taxes, heirs, and home-equity choices for older homeowners in 2026. Content excerpt: Property-tax relief and lien questions usually start as government-benefit questions. For older homeowners, they can also become home-equity questions: should you use a reverse mortgage, a HELOC, or another source of cash flow to stay current and protect the house? The short answer: a reverse mortgage can improve monthly cash flow, but it does not erase the owner's obligation to pay property taxes, homeowners insurance, HOA dues, or basic maintenance. If those obligations fall behind, the loan can go into default. That is why tax-relief programs, exemptions, deferrals, and payment plans should be checked before borrowing against the home. What a reverse mortgage changes-and what it does not A Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) lets eligible homeowners age 62 or older convert part of their home equity into cash, a line of credit, or monthly proceeds while continuing to live in the home. The borrower generally does not make a required monthly mortgage payment, which can free up income for taxes, insurance, repairs, and living expenses. But the homeowner still owns the home and still has owner responsibilities. Property taxes and insurance remain live obligations. If you are already behind on taxes, a lender or counselor may require a plan for curing the delinquency before a reverse mortgage can close. What happens to heirs? When the last eligible borrower permanently leaves the home or passes away, the loan becomes due. Heirs commonly have three practical options: Sell the home and use sale proceeds to repay the reverse mortgage balance. Keep the home by refinancing or paying off the balance, often up to the lesser of the balance or a percentage of the appraised value under HECM rules. Walk away if the loan balance is higher than the home's value. Federally insured HECMs are designed as non-recourse loans, meaning the house-not the heirs' other assets-is the repayment source. If there is equity left after repayment, that equity belongs to the estate or heirs. The key tradeoff is that using home equity today may reduce the equity available later. Reverse mortgage vs. HELOC for tax pressure A HELOC can make sense when the need is temporary, … ## Save Money on Your Car Purchase With These 5 Tips for 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/save-money-on-your-car-purchase-with-these-5-tips - Type: article - Author: LeeAnn Reynolds - Published: 2022-07-28T19:02:40+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Banking, Featured, Loans - Tags: car buying, auto loans, saving for a car Summary: Buying a car in 2026? Five ways to pay less — park savings at ~4%, prequalify with a soft pull, use FICO's 45-day window, and finance it the cheaper way. Content excerpt: Few purchases combine a price tag this large with this many decisions — make, model, trim, new or used, cash or financed. That combination is exactly where money leaks out. And with used-car loans averaging over 11% in early 2026, the financing side of the deal now matters as much as the negotiation. Here are five ways to keep more of your money through the whole purchase. 1. Determine What's Important Start with a two-column list: features you must have, and features you'd merely like. Be honest about seats and storage you'll actually use, and whether an electric or hybrid model fits your driving. Safety and anti-theft features deserve a spot on the list — they can earn discounts on your insurance policy. Then draw the budget line, remembering that newer models typically cost far more than comparable used ones. Narrowing the field to cars that fit both the list and the budget keeps you from paying extra for features you never asked for. 2. Start Saving — Somewhere That Pays You Cash is the cheapest financing there is: every dollar of down payment is a dollar you never pay interest on, and a bigger down payment can also qualify you for a better loan rate. The good news in 2026 is that saving finally pays. Top high-yield savings accounts earn around 4% APY while keeping the money reachable whenever the right car appears — many big traditional banks still pay well under 1%, so where you park the fund matters. If you've set a firm purchase date, say a year out, a certificate of deposit can lock in a top rate until then; compare today's CD rates to see what's available. Either way, your car fund grows while you shop. 3. Check Your Credit Score If you'll finance any part of the purchase, your credit profile sets your rate, and the gap between strong and mediocre credit is worth real money over a loan's life. Check where you stand months before you shop: your credit reports are free every week from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. Dispute any errors, pay every bill on time, and work card balances down — below 30% of the limit, and lower is better. A few months of cleanup before you apply can follow you, in savings, for the entire term of the loan. 4. … ## Where Can I Save My Money? The Right Account for Each Time Horizon URL: https://www.ratezip.com/save-my-money-72126 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-05-05T09:40:19+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Savings - Tags: savings accounts, CD rates, Roth IRA, emergency fund Summary: Cash pays again in 2026: savings near 4%, CDs 4.3%-4.5%. Match each dollar to its timeline, from checking to CDs to a Roth IRA you can still reach. Content excerpt: The 2014 version of this question had a discouraging answer: savings accounts paid almost nothing, CDs paid about the same, and the honest advice was to keep cash to a minimum and get the rest into the market. In 2026 the answer is better. Top high-yield savings accounts pay around 4% APY and the best nationally available CDs pay roughly 4.3%–4.5%, so money that is merely waiting can earn something real. What has not changed is the organizing principle: the right account depends on when you will need the money. Money you need this month: checking A checking account is for spending, not saving. Most pay little or no interest, so it should hold about a month of bills plus a cushion for the payment that clears early or the bill that runs high. If you automate most of your bills, that cushion matters more, because an automatic payment that overdraws the account turns into a fee. Keep the buffer modest and move everything above it somewhere that pays. Money you need within a year or two: high-yield savings This is the home for the emergency fund, next summer's travel, a car you plan to buy next year, or a down payment you expect to use soon. The money has to be reachable within days and without penalty, which rules out CDs and the stock market and leaves savings accounts. The key decision is which one. Many large traditional banks still pay well under 1% on standard savings, while online high-yield accounts pay around 4%; on a $30,000 balance that gap is roughly $1,000 a year for filling out one application. Both are federally insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution, per ownership category, so the higher rate does not come with higher risk. Money market accounts are a variation on the same theme: savings accounts with limited check or debit access. Compare their yields against high-yield savings rates rather than assuming they pay more. Money with a date on it, one to five years out: CDs Here the old advice reverses. In 2014 it was reasonable to skip CDs entirely, because they paid no more than savings and locked the money up. In 2026 top CDs pay more than top savings accounts, … ## Secured Credit Card vs. Prepaid Debit Card: Only One Builds Credit URL: https://www.ratezip.com/secured-credit-card-vs-prepaid-debit-card-21861 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-08-30T09:00:58+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Credit - Tags: secured credit card, prepaid debit card, building credit Summary: A secured card reports to the credit bureaus and builds credit; prepaid debit never will. The 2026 fee reality, plus credit-builder loans and Experian Boost. Content excerpt: A secured credit card and a prepaid debit card look nearly identical in the hand: put money in first, then swipe. But they do opposite jobs. One is a real credit account that reports your behavior to the credit bureaus; the other is a spending wallet that reports nothing. Pick the wrong one and you can spend a year "building credit" that never existed. Secured credit card: a credit account with training wheels A secured card is a genuine credit card. You put down a refundable deposit — which typically becomes your credit limit — and because the deposit covers the issuer's risk, approval is realistic even with damaged credit or none at all. Then the part that matters happens every month: your payment behavior is reported to the credit bureaus , and each on-time payment builds your file. The fee picture has changed completely since this product's early days. The old predatory tier of secured cards — the ones layered with application, monthly and annual fees — has largely collapsed. In 2026 the norm among major issuers is a $0-annual-fee secured card, and several run automatic account reviews that can graduate you to an unsecured card and return your deposit. If a secured card offer wants a stack of fees, keep looking: you no longer have to pay for the privilege of building credit. Two rules make a secured card work. Keep the balance small relative to the limit, because utilization affects your score. And pay in full every month, without exception — with the average APR on interest-accruing card accounts at 22.15% in 2026, carrying a balance on a credit-building card defeats the purpose. Treat it as a reporting device, not spending money. (Utilization and payment history are two of the three money mistakes that hurt your credit score most.) Prepaid debit card: banking access, not credit A prepaid debit card is loadable spending money with a card-network logo. You add funds, spend anywhere cards are accepted, and often get direct deposit and online bill pay in the bargain. What it will never do is build credit: nothing about a prepaid card reaches the credit bureaus , because no borrowing is involved. A decade of responsible use leaves no trace on your file. … ## Should You Buy a Home Together If You're Not Married? URL: https://www.ratezip.com/should-you-buy-a-home-together-if-youre-not-married-12809 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-10-01T09:00:35+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage - Tags: buying a home together, unmarried couples, joint tenancy, tenancy in common Summary: Lenders price the loan off the weaker credit file, the deed decides who owns, and state law will not split things for you. What unmarried co-buyers need to settle first. Content excerpt: Married couples were 61% of home buyers in NAR's 2025 profile, and only half of first-time buyers. A meaningful minority of the rest are unmarried couples buying together, often because two incomes are the only way to reach a $429,300 median home at a mid-6s mortgage rate. The mortgage does not care whether you are married. The law does. Marriage comes with default rules for who owns what and what happens if you split or one of you dies; an unmarried couple gets none of those defaults and has to write its own. Here is what to settle before you sign. The lender looks at both of you, and prices off the weaker file When two people apply together, both credit reports, both incomes and both sets of debts go into the application. The income side is additive; the credit side is not. Lenders pull scores from all three bureaus for each borrower and take each person's middle score. When a loan is underwritten manually, the representative score for the application is the lowest of the borrowers' scores (Fannie Mae now lets certain manually underwritten loans meet the minimum-score test on the average of the borrowers' median scores instead). Automated underwriting weighs each file's risk factors rather than applying one number, but a partner with thin or damaged credit can still raise the rate or sink the approval for both of you. Fannie Mae's automated system no longer enforces a fixed minimum score; loans underwritten manually still need 620 (640 for ARMs), and most lenders keep their own floors. So the first conversation is the unromantic one: pull your reports (free, weekly, at AnnualCreditReport.com), compare scores, and look at each other's debt. Lenders also want two years of employment history, so a job change one of you is contemplating belongs in this conversation too. If one partner's credit would drag the loan down, you have an option married couples also use: put only the stronger borrower on the mortgage. That partner must qualify on their income alone, and the other can still go on the deed, subject to the lender's rules for a non-borrowing owner. If the down payment is coming from the partner who is not on the loan, … ## Should You Co-Sign Your Kid's First Credit Card? URL: https://www.ratezip.com/should-you-co-sign-you-kids-first-credit-card-92386 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-10-28T13:34:10+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T16:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Credit - Tags: co-signing, first credit card, authorized user, student credit cards Summary: Under 21 needs income or a co-signer, but many major issuers no longer take co-signers. The real routes: authorized user, student and secured cards, and what you owe. Content excerpt: The question in the title is older than the answer. The rule that sends parents looking for it is still on the books: under the CARD Act, a card issuer may not open an account for anyone under 21 unless the applicant shows an independent ability to make the minimum payments, or a co-signer, guarantor or joint applicant aged 21 or older with the means to repay signs the agreement. What changed is the market. Capital One, which does not offer joint accounts, states plainly that many major issuers no longer offer co-signing at all, and points parents to adding the child as an authorized user instead. U.S. Bank is a notable holdout: it still issues young-adult co-signer accounts. So for most families the practical question is no longer "should I co-sign?" but "which of the routes that still exist is right for my kid?" Here is what each one does, and what you are on the hook for. If you do co-sign: what it means Where co-signing is still offered, the terms have not softened. The FTC's guidance is blunt: a co-signer is liable for the full amount of the debt plus any late fees or collection costs, and the lender can collect from the co-signer without first pursuing the borrower. The account appears on your credit report, so a missed payment lands on your file as well as your child's, and the balance counts against you when you apply for your own credit. Lenders must give you a written Notice to Cosigner before you sign; read it. A joint account is the same exposure by another name: each joint holder is responsible for the entire balance regardless of who made the charges. The general case against it is laid out in three reasons you shouldn't co-sign a loan ; the credit card version is simply that a revolving line can be run back up after every payoff. Route 1: authorized user This is the route the issuers themselves recommend, and it is the one that keeps you in control. You add your child to one of your existing cards; they get a card with their name on it, the account stays yours, some issuers let you set a spending limit on their card, and you can remove them at any time. The account's history may be reported on their file, … ## Should You Refinance in 2026? Run This Math First URL: https://www.ratezip.com/should-you-refinance-in-2026 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2026-07-10T09:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage - Tags: refinance, mortgage rates, 2026 outlook Summary: With the 30-year fixed near 6.5%, refinancing pays for some 2023-2024 borrowers and not others. The break-even framework, the February lesson, and how to be ready for the next rate window. Content excerpt: Whether a 2026 refinance makes sense comes down to one question: what rate are you holding now? With the 30-year fixed near 6.5% at mid-year, the answer splits borrowers into three camps. Who wins by refinancing now Borrowers who locked 7.5%+ in late 2023. Rates peaked near 8% in October 2023. If you bought then and have not refinanced, a move from 7.75% to 6.5% on a $400,000 balance saves roughly $340 a month. Even with closing costs of a few thousand dollars, the break-even arrives in well under two years. FHA borrowers with strong equity. If home-price growth has pushed you past 20% equity, a conventional refinance can eliminate FHA's ongoing mortgage insurance premium on top of any rate savings - a double win worth pricing even if the rate improvement alone looks thin. Who should wait Anyone holding a rate below 6%. That includes most people who bought or refinanced in 2020-2021 and the borrowers who caught this February's dip to 5.98%. There is no refinance case at today's rates; your mortgage is the asset. The break-even framework Get a real quote with itemized closing costs - not a teaser rate. Divide total costs by the monthly savings. That is your break-even in months. Compare break-even to how long you will realistically keep the loan. Under 24 months is compelling; over 48 rarely pays. Beware the term reset: 28 years into a new 30-year clock can erase the savings. Price a shorter term or make the old payment against the new loan. The February lesson: be pre-positioned The sub-6% window in February 2026 lasted weeks, not months. Borrowers who had documents gathered and a target rate written down got locks; everyone else got a story about the rate they almost had. Decide your trigger rate now, keep your file ready, and watch today's rates . The full decision framework - including cash-out considerations - is in our refinancing guide . ## Someone Else Should Pay Your Mortgage: House Hacking in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/someone-else-should-pay-your-mortgage-14838 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-09-09T09:00:53+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage - Tags: house hacking, rental income, multi-unit mortgage, ADU Summary: Buy a 2-4 unit home or one with an ADU, live in part of it, and let tenants cover part of the payment. How lenders count the rent under 2026 FHA and Fannie Mae rules. Content excerpt: The pitch has not changed since this article first ran: buy a property with a rental unit in it, live in one part, and let a tenant's rent pay part of your mortgage. What has changed is the arithmetic around it. With the 30-year fixed in the mid-6s and the median existing home around $429,300, a $400,000 loan at 6.5% costs about $2,528 a month in principal and interest. Rent that covers a third or half of that is the difference between a stretch and a comfortable payment, which is why "house hacking" has gone from a niche idea to a mainstream one. Here is how it works under 2026 lending rules, and the questions to ask before you count on someone else's check. Three ways to do it A two- to four-unit home you occupy. Duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes qualify for owner-occupied financing as long as you live in one unit. This is the version lenders understand best. A home with an accessory dwelling unit. A finished basement apartment, a garage conversion or a backyard cottage with its own entrance and kitchen. ADU income now has explicit rules at both FHA and Fannie Mae. A roommate. The simplest version, and the one lenders count least: boarder income is generally not accepted for conventional qualifying, with an exception for Fannie Mae's HomeReady program, where it is capped at 30% of your total income and needs 12 months of documented shared residency and payments. Financing an owner-occupied multi-unit Two programs do most of the work. FHA requires a minimum investment of 3.5% of the property's value on owner-occupied one- to four-unit purchases, with a 580 credit score, which makes it the cheapest way into a fourplex. On the conventional side, Fannie Mae has allowed 5% down on owner-occupied two- to four-unit purchases since late 2023, where it used to require far more; lenders commonly offer it on conforming loans that are not high-balance. Check the 2026 loan limits for your county before you assume a multi-unit price fits either box. The strings attached are where first-time landlords get surprised: Your own cash. On a conventional two- to four-unit purchase with less than 20% down, at least 5% must come from your own funds; … ## Are Student Loans Hurting Your Chances of a Mortgage? How Lenders Count Them in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/student-loans-hurting-housing-industry-34611 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-03-19T19:06:41+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T23:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Loans - Tags: student loans, debt-to-income ratio, mortgage qualification, first-time buyers Summary: Lenders count student loans in your DTI even at a $0 payment: 1% or 0.5% of the balance on conventional and FHA loans, 5%/12 on VA. What it means for approval in 2026. Content excerpt: The 2014 version of this article asked whether student debt was dragging down the housing recovery. The more useful 2026 question is personal: you have a student loan balance, you want a mortgage, and you need to know exactly how a lender will count that debt. The answer varies by loan program and is shifting this year as federal repayment plans are reshuffled. The scale, briefly As of March 31, 2026, 42.6 million people held $1.7 trillion in federal student loans. Roughly 9 million borrowers, more than 13%, were in default, and 8.4 million, about one in five, had at least one loan in forbearance. Among buyers, the National Association of Realtors found that 43% of younger millennial buyers carried student debt with a median balance of $30,000, and 29% of older millennials with a median of $35,000. First-time buyers made up 21% of purchases in NAR's 2025 survey, the lowest share since 1981, at a median age of 40, and they named high rent and student loans as the two costs that most held back their saving. How the payment shows up in your debt-to-income ratio Mortgage approval turns on the debt-to-income ratio: your monthly debt payments, including the new mortgage, divided by gross monthly income. The classic 28/36 rule is a budgeting guideline, not a lender ceiling. Fannie Mae's automated underwriting allows conventional DTI up to 50%; FHA's standard guideline is 31% front-end and 43% back-end, with automated approvals possible up to roughly 46.9% and 56.9% with compensating factors. A student loan enters that ratio as a monthly payment, and the payment lenders use is not always the one you make. What each program counts, even when your payment is $0 Conventional, Fannie Mae. The credit-report payment is used. If it shows no payment or $0, the lender must determine one: on an income-driven plan it needs documentation that the actual payment is $0 before using $0; for loans in deferment or forbearance it uses 1% of the outstanding balance or a fully amortizing payment based on documented loan terms. Conventional, Freddie Mac. When the credit report shows a $0.00 payment, including on an income-driven plan, … ## Should You Take Out a Mortgage to Pay for College in 2026? URL: https://www.ratezip.com/take-mortgage-pay-college - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-06-13T09:00:09+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage - Tags: paying for college, home equity, HELOC, student loans Summary: Parent PLUS costs 9.07% plus a 4.228% fee for 2026-27, so home equity looks cheaper. Why risk, tax rules and aid formulas still say 529 first, federal loans next. Content excerpt: A decade ago the answer was easy: federal student loans cost about the same as a mortgage or less, so there was no reason to put your house on the line for tuition. In 2026 the arithmetic has flipped, at least for parents. Parent PLUS loans for the 2026–27 award year carry a fixed 9.07% rate plus a 4.228% origination fee taken off the top. Home equity lines of credit averaged about 7.25% in mid-2026, and 30-year mortgage rates have spent the year in the mid-6s. On rate alone, borrowing against the house now looks like the cheaper way to fund a parent's share of college. The full answer is more complicated. The rate comparison, honestly Direct undergraduate loans (the student's own): 6.52% for 2026–27, with the federal safety net attached (more on that below). Parent PLUS: 9.07% plus the 4.228% fee. On $20,000 borrowed, the fee alone is about $846 before a dollar reaches the school. PLUS loans are still federal loans with federal borrower protections, but the debt belongs to the parent, not the student. HELOC: about 7.25% on average in mid-2026, usually a variable rate, secured by your home. Cash-out refinance: mid-6s in 2026, the lowest rate on the list, but it re-prices your entire mortgage balance rather than just the tuition money, and closing costs typically run 2%–5% of the loan amount. If your existing mortgage carries a lower rate than today's market, this is the most expensive option of all. The spread between Parent PLUS and a HELOC is nearly two percentage points before the fee, which is real money across four years of tuition. That is the case for the house. Everything that follows is the case against. What you give up when the collateral is your home A federal student loan is unsecured. Fall behind and your credit suffers; nobody takes your house. A HELOC or cash-out refinance turns tuition into mortgage debt, and mortgage debt is enforced by foreclosure. Federal loans also come with a safety net that no home-equity product offers: deferment while the student is enrolled, forbearance in a crisis, repayment plans tied to income, and forgiveness programs for some borrowers. A HELOC has a payment due every month regardless of what happens to your job, … ## What Is a Target-Date Investment Fund, and Should You Use One? URL: https://www.ratezip.com/target-date-investment-fund - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-05-26T09:00:56+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Savings - Tags: target-date funds, 401(k), retirement investing, asset allocation Summary: One fund that rebalances itself toward your retirement year. How the glide path works, why it became the default 401(k) investment, and how to choose one. Content excerpt: A target-date investment fund is a single mutual fund built around a year, usually the year you expect to retire. Inside it is a mix of stocks, bonds and cash-like holdings, and the mix changes on a schedule: heavy on stocks when the year is far off, because you have time to ride out downturns, and steadily more conservative as the date approaches. You buy one fund, keep contributing, and the rebalancing happens without you. Most are built for retirement, though the same design is used for other dated goals, such as college savings. That description has not changed since these funds were new. What has changed is their role. In 2026 a target-date fund is not one option among many on a 401(k) menu; in most plans it is the default investment, and for many savers it is the entire portfolio. How the glide path works The schedule that shifts the fund from stocks toward bonds is called the glide path, and it is the main thing that distinguishes one fund family's 2050 fund from another's. Two funds with the same year in the name can hold noticeably different amounts of stock at the same point, and the difference is largest around the target date itself. That is because there are two philosophies. A "to" fund reaches its most conservative mix at the target year, on the theory that you will start drawing the money then. A "through" fund keeps reducing stock exposure for years past the target date, on the theory that retirement lasts decades and the money must keep growing. Neither is wrong, but they suit different people: a "to" glide path fits someone who plans to move the money into an annuity or a personally managed portfolio at retirement, while a "through" path fits someone who intends to leave the balance in the fund and draw it down slowly. The fund's prospectus states which approach it takes. Why it became the default Two forces made target-date funds the center of American retirement saving. The first is inertia, harnessed on purpose. Under the SECURE 2.0 law, 401(k) and 403(b) plans established on or after December 29, 2022 must automatically enroll eligible employees for plan years beginning in 2025 or later, … ## Term Life vs. Whole Life: Pros and Cons URL: https://www.ratezip.com/term-life-vs-whole-life-pros-cons - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-07-04T09:00:23+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Insurance Rates - Tags: term life insurance, whole life insurance, life insurance Summary: Term life is cheap coverage for a set period; whole life costs far more, lasts for life and builds cash value. Pros, cons, the end-of-term trap, who buys which. Content excerpt: Buying life insurance starts with one fork in the road: coverage for a season of your life, or coverage for all of it. Term life and whole life answer that question differently, and almost everything else about them, from the price to the paperwork at the end, follows from that choice. Here is how each one works, where each one shines, and where the older advice about them has gone wrong. How term life works A term policy covers you for a fixed period at a fixed premium. Ten-, 15-, 20- and 30-year terms are the standard menu; 35- and 40-year terms exist but are rare. If you die during the term, your beneficiaries receive the death benefit. If you outlive it, the policy has done its job by not being needed, and you have nothing to show for the premiums except the years of protection they bought. That is not a flaw. It is why term is cheap. What happens at the end of the term is where a lot of older guidance, including an earlier version of this article, is simply wrong. Most term policies do not expire outright; they continue as annually renewable term at "attained-age" rates. No new medical exam is required, but the premium jumps to several times the level premium in the first renewal years and rises again every year after that. Renewal is a bridge, not a plan. The alternative, converting to a permanent policy without new underwriting, is allowed only inside the policy's conversion window, which often closes years before the term ends or at a set age. Once you are on annual renewal, conversion is off the table. How whole life works Whole life is the classic form of permanent insurance. As long as you pay the premiums, the coverage lasts for life, and the premium is designed to stay level rather than climbing with age. Part of each payment builds cash value inside the policy, which grows slowly, can be borrowed against, and is paid out if you surrender the policy. Loans that are not repaid reduce the death benefit. For the same death benefit, a whole life premium is far higher than a term premium, because you are prepaying for coverage in your eighties and funding the savings component at the same time. … ## The 14-Day Rule: How to Shop for a Loan Without Hurting Your Credit Score URL: https://www.ratezip.com/the-30-day-rule-92717 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-10-21T09:00:20+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Credit - Tags: credit inquiries, rate shopping, credit score Summary: The 30-day rule is wrong. FICO groups loan inquiries within 45 days (14 on older versions), VantageScore uses 14, and card applications never group. Finish in two weeks. Content excerpt: Shopping lenders is the most reliable way to cut the cost of a loan. On any given morning the gap between the highest and lowest posted 30-year mortgage rates across lenders is wider than the market moves that day: on September 1, 2026 it was 1.25 points across the lenders RateZip tracks, roughly $325 a month on a $400,000 loan. But every formal application puts a hard inquiry on your credit report, and the fear that a pile of inquiries will sink your score keeps a lot of people from shopping at all. The scoring models anticipated this and built in a grace window. The catch is that the folk version of the rule — "get all your applications in within 30 days" — is wrong, and following it can cost you. Why applying for credit touches your score at all New credit accounts for 10% of a FICO score. A hard inquiry is the record a lender leaves when it pulls your file because you asked to borrow. Statistically, someone opening a lot of new accounts in a short stretch is a riskier borrower, so the model treats a burst of inquiries as a warning sign. Rate shopping looks the same on paper — several lenders pulling your report in a few weeks — but it is one loan, not several. Both major scoring companies handle that distinction with a deduplication window: inquiries of the same type that fall inside the window count as a single inquiry. What the models actually do FICO: mortgage, auto and student-loan inquiries that land inside a 45-day window count as one on current versions of the score. Older versions still in use at some lenders use a 14-day window. On top of that, FICO ignores any inquiry less than 30 days old when it calculates your score. VantageScore: a 14-day window, and it groups every type of inquiry, not just loans. Credit cards: FICO never groups card applications. Three card applications are three inquiries, no matter how close together they fall. Where the "30 days" came from, and why it misleads The 30-day number is real; it is just the wrong takeaway. Because FICO disregards inquiries younger than 30 days, a fresh cluster of applications is invisible to your score while you are still shopping and while the lender you pick is underwriting you. … ## 5 Tricks to Get Your Mortgage Approved: What Underwriters Actually Check in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/the-mortgage-insiders-guide-5-tricks-to-get-your-mortgage-approved - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2015-03-23T23:10:19+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage - Tags: mortgage underwriting, mortgage approval, debt-to-income ratio, credit score Summary: Credit, income, debt ratios, assets and the paper trail: the five things an underwriter checks, with 2026 conventional and FHA thresholds and what to fix before you apply. Content excerpt: An underwriter's job is to decide whether the loan will be repaid, using nothing but the file in front of them. The "tricks" are simply the five things the underwriter checks, and what you can do about each before you apply. 1. Credit: the score, and what is behind it Payment history and amounts owed are the two biggest components of a FICO score, at 35% and 30% of the total. So the two most useful moves before applying are simple: pay everything on time for as long as possible beforehand, and get revolving balances below 30% of their limits — lower is better. What score you need depends on the loan. Fannie Mae's automated underwriting system no longer enforces a fixed minimum score. Loans underwritten manually still need a 620 for a fixed-rate loan (640 for an ARM), and most lenders keep floors of their own. FHA allows a 580 score with 3.5% down, or 500 to 579 with 10% down, subject to lender overlays. Lenders pull a tri-merge report from all three bureaus and, since April 22, 2026, may use VantageScore 4.0 or FICO Score 10T alongside the classic FICO versions; both newer models can count rent, utility and phone payments when reported. Pull your own reports first. They are free weekly from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com, and fix any errors before the lender pulls. While the loan is in process, do not open new accounts and do not close old ones: the underwriter must confirm you have taken on no new debt since the report was pulled, and any new payment gets added to your ratios. Rate-shopping between mortgage lenders is fine — FICO groups mortgage inquiries inside a 14-to-45-day window depending on the version — but finish inside two weeks to be safe. See how to raise your credit score for the mechanics. 2. Income: two years, and a reason to believe it continues Underwriters evaluate your most recent two years of employment and want a two-year history for each income source. Income received for a shorter period, but at least twelve months, can be considered when the lender can justify it. Gaps within the most recent twelve months must be analyzed, and if you hold more than one job, … ## The Mortgage Insider's Guide: How the Property You Pick Affects Your Mortgage Approval URL: https://www.ratezip.com/the-mortgage-insiders-guide-examining-your-property - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2015-04-16T16:51:26+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Featured, Mortgage - Tags: condo mortgage, co-op financing, manufactured home loans, home appraisal Summary: Condos, co-ops, manufactured homes and unusual houses are each underwritten differently. What lenders check on the property side, and what to ask before you write an offer. Content excerpt: Mortgage approval has two halves: you (credit, income, assets) and the property, which buyers routinely forget. A borrower with excellent credit can still be turned down because the condo project fails the lender's review, the co-op board says no, or the appraiser cannot find a comparable sale. Here is what lenders check on the property side, and what to ask before you write an offer. First question: what kind of property is it? "Single-family home" means a detached house on its own lot, and it is the simplest case for financing. Condominiums, townhouses inside a planned development, co-ops, two-to-four-unit buildings, manufactured homes, homes on leased land and mixed-use buildings each carry their own rules, and some lenders decline whole categories. Tell your loan officer at pre-approval exactly what you are buying. A townhouse can legally be a condominium; the deed and association documents, not the architecture, decide. Condos: the project has to qualify, not just you For a condo, the lender underwrites the whole project along with your loan. Fannie Mae will not buy loans in projects where commercial space exceeds 35% of the building, where a single owner holds more than a set share of the units (two units in a project of five to twenty, 20% of the units in larger projects), where the building operates like a hotel with a front desk or short-term rentals, where ownership is timeshare or fractional, or where there is pending litigation over safety, structural soundness or habitability. Unfunded repairs costing more than $10,000 per unit that are due within the next twelve months also disqualify a project. For a full project review, lenders check that the association budget puts at least 10% of assessment income into replacement reserves, that no more than 15% of units are 60 or more days behind on dues, and, for new construction, that at least half the units are sold or under contract to owner-occupants or second-home buyers. A project counts as "established" once at least 90% of the units have been sold. … ## The Mortgage Insider's Guide to Documentation: The 2026 Mortgage Document Checklist URL: https://www.ratezip.com/the-mortgage-insiders-guide-to-documentation - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2015-04-29T18:17:57+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Featured, Mortgage - Tags: mortgage documents, mortgage application, loan estimate, gift letter Summary: Everything a lender asks for in 2026: pay stubs, W-2s, two months of statements, gift letters, plus what digital verification changes and when the Loan Estimate arrives. Content excerpt: A mortgage application asks a lender to hand you several hundred thousand dollars on the strength of your paperwork, so the paperwork is the point. Borrowers who gather it before they apply close faster and get fewer follow-up requests. Here is what lenders ask for in 2026, what has changed, and what happens after you submit. Before the contract: pre-approval A pre-approval is a lender's conditional commitment based on a hard credit pull and a review of your income and assets. Lenders commonly request about 30 days of pay stubs, two years of W-2s and your two most recent bank statements at this stage. The letter typically stays valid for 60 to 90 days, and some lenders cut it off at 30. It does not lock a rate; the lock is a separate commitment on a specific property, usually for 30, 45 or 60 days. See our pre-qualified vs. pre-approved explainer for the difference between the two letters. The checklist Every borrower on the loan supplies these; the loan program and the property may add items. The signed purchase contract , all pages and addenda, plus a copy of your earnest-money check or the wire confirmation. Identification : a government-issued photo ID, your Social Security number, and your current and recent prior addresses. Income : pay stubs covering the most recent 30 days with year-to-date earnings, plus W-2s for the past two years. Employer contacts for the past two years. Lenders evaluate two years of employment history and will call your employer to confirm you still work there within the ten business days before closing. Tax returns if you are self-employed, own part of a business, or have income that does not appear on a W-2: personal returns with all schedules covering the same two-year window, plus business returns and a year-to-date profit-and-loss statement. The lender must also verify that your business exists within the 120 days before closing. Other income : award letters for Social Security or pension income, court orders for child support or alimony you receive, and leases for rental property. Income with a known end date must be expected to continue for at least three years from closing to count. … ## How to Get the Best Rate on a Car Loan in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/three-tips-for-finding-the-best-rate-on-a-car-loan-65804 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-07-12T09:30:56+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Auto Loans - Tags: auto loans, car loan rates, preapproval Summary: Average car-loan APRs ran 6.39% new and 11.43% used in early 2026. Soft-pull prequalification, preapproval, and the FICO shopping window get you below average. Content excerpt: A car loan is one of the largest debts most households carry, and in 2026 the interest is no rounding error: Experian's auto-finance data for the first quarter of 2026 put the average new-car loan APR at 6.39% and the average used-car loan at 11.43%, while borrowers with excellent credit averaged closer to 4.55% on new cars. The distance between average and best is the whole game — and it is won or lost before you ever sit down in the dealership's finance office. Shop the loan separately from the car The oldest rule is still the most valuable: the vehicle and the financing are two different purchases. Dealers prefer to negotiate them as one bundle, because a fair price on the car can quietly subsidize a marked-up rate on the loan. Decide what the car is worth, and separately decide who should lend you the money. Banks, online lenders, and credit unions all compete for auto loans — and credit unions in particular remain consistently hard to beat, with membership far easier to obtain than most people assume. Start with soft-pull prequalification You no longer have to spend your credit score to comparison-shop. Many lenders offer prequalification using a soft credit pull: you see an estimated rate and payment based on your actual credit profile, with no impact on your score. Collect a few of these to learn your realistic range and identify the strongest one or two lenders before filing any full application. Then compress the real applications into one window Formal applications do involve hard credit inquiries, but scoring models are built to allow comparison shopping. FICO counts multiple auto-loan inquiries inside a single shopping window as one event — 45 days on newer FICO versions, 14 days on older ones still in use. The practical move works under either: do your serious applying in a tight burst of a couple of weeks, and the extra inquiries cost you essentially nothing. Auto-loan inquiries are also ignored by the score entirely for their first 30 days, so shopping this week cannot taint the very approval you are shopping for. … ## HSA Rules Just Changed for 2026: New Limits, New Eligibility, Same Triple Tax Break URL: https://www.ratezip.com/tips-using-health-savings-account-80286 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-05-09T09:29:26+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Insurance Rates - Tags: HSA, health savings account, 2026 limits, open enrollment Summary: 2026 brings $4,400/$8,750 contribution limits and a major eligibility expansion — every ACA bronze and catastrophic plan now qualifies. How health savings accounts work, who can fund one, and how to get the most out of it. Content excerpt: The health savings account has always been the most generously taxed account in American personal finance, and 2026 just made it available to millions more people. If you shrugged HSAs off in past years because your plan did not qualify, this is the year to look again — ideally before open enrollment locks in your 2027 choices. What changed for 2026 Higher limits. You can contribute up to $4,400 with self-only coverage or $8,750 with family coverage in 2026, plus a $1,000 catch-up if you are 55 or older. Contributions can come from you, your employer, or both — the limit is shared. Far more plans qualify. Under the 2025 tax law, every bronze and catastrophic plan sold on the ACA marketplace counts as HSA-qualifying coverage starting January 1, 2026. Before this, marketplace shoppers had to hunt for specifically labeled HSA-eligible plans, and most bronze plans failed the fine print. If you buy your own insurance, this is the headline: your bronze plan now likely unlocks an HSA. Telehealth and direct primary care no longer disqualify you. The same law made permanent the rule letting high-deductible plans cover telehealth before the deductible, and it allows a direct primary care membership (up to $150 a month for an individual, $300 for a family) alongside an HSA. Two of the most common technical foot-faults are simply gone. The triple tax break, spelled out No other account offers all three: contributions reduce your taxable income going in (pre-tax through payroll, deductible otherwise); the money grows untaxed; and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses come out tax-free. A 401(k) taxes you eventually and a Roth taxes you up front — an HSA used for medical costs is never taxed at all. Payroll contributions even skip Social Security and Medicare tax, which not even a 401(k) manages. Tips for getting the most out of one Shop the account, not just the plan. HSA providers differ widely on monthly fees, interest paid on cash, and investment menus. Your employer's default custodian is not mandatory forever — you can open an HSA anywhere once you are eligible, and roll balances between providers. Know where the money actually sits. … ## Top Reverse Mortgage Fears Addressed URL: https://www.ratezip.com/top-reverse-mortgage-fears-addressed - Type: article - Author: LeeAnn Reynolds - Published: 2022-05-17T19:48:34+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Featured, Mortgage - Tags: reverse mortgage, HECM, retirement, home equity Summary: Five common reverse mortgage fears - losing the home, shortchanged heirs, hidden costs - measured against how FHA-insured HECMs actually work in 2026. Content excerpt: If you're 62 or older — the statutory minimum age for the FHA's Home Equity Conversion Mortgage — and have meaningful equity in your home, you may be eligible for a reverse mortgage: a loan that converts part of that equity into cash, a line of credit, or monthly draws, with no required monthly payment to the lender. It is also one of the most second-guessed products in personal finance, and some of that wariness is healthy. A reverse mortgage is a regulated, HUD-counseled loan with real costs, not a windfall. For 2026, the FHA-insured HECM carries a maximum claim amount of $1,249,125 . Here are the five fears that come up most, measured against how the loan actually works. Fear #1: You Will Leave Less to Your Heirs Partly true — and that is the point. A reverse mortgage spends home equity, so there will likely be less of it left over. But your heirs still inherit whatever equity remains after the loan is repaid, and they have real choices: keep the home by paying off the balance, sell it and keep the difference, or hand the keys back without owing the shortfall on an FHA-insured loan. The equity is yours; using it to fund a comfortable retirement is a legitimate choice, not a betrayal. For the timelines, taxes, and decisions your family would actually face, see what heirs need to know about reverse mortgages in 2026 . Fear #2: You Will Be Forced Out of Your Home As long as you meet the loan's terms, you remain the homeowner and can stay as long as you like — the loan doesn't come due until the last borrower permanently leaves the home. The obligations, though, are real and worth taking seriously: you must keep paying property taxes and homeowners insurance, keep the house maintained, and keep it as your primary residence. Fall behind on those and the loan can be called due. That is the honest version of this fear, and the answer to it is budgeting for those carrying costs before you borrow, not after. Fear #3: You Will Owe More Than the House Is Worth What if home prices drop after you borrow? On an FHA-insured HECM, this fear is answered by design: the loan is non-recourse, … ## Credit Card Insurance Benefits in 2026: What Survived, What Was Cut and What Is New URL: https://www.ratezip.com/types-insurance-included-credit-card-benefits-13804 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-04-30T16:17:45+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Insurance Rates - Tags: credit card benefits, rental car insurance, cell phone protection, travel insurance Summary: Rental car collision and trip coverage still ride along on many cards. Price protection is gone, extended warranties were cut, and cell-phone protection is new. Content excerpt: The insurance tucked into your credit card's benefits guide is real, and in the right moment it is the difference between an inconvenience and a genuine loss. But most of what was written about card protections a decade ago describes benefits that issuers have since trimmed, capped or quietly deleted. Here is the 2026 map: what still comes with the card, what was cut, what is new, and the one habit that decides whether any of it pays. The rule that has not changed Card insurance only applies to what you paid for with that card. Pay for the rental, the flight or the phone bill with a different card, or with cash, and the coverage simply does not exist. The second rule is that the terms live in a document called the Guide to Benefits, not in the marketing, and issuers can and do change it. Pull the current version from your issuer's website before you rely on any of this. What survived Rental car collision coverage. The most valuable everyday benefit is still standing. Many cards, especially travel cards, cover damage to or theft of a rental car when you pay with the card and decline the counter's collision damage waiver. Declining is not optional; accepting the rental company's waiver generally voids the card's coverage. On most cards the protection is secondary, meaning it pays only what your own auto policy does not, and you file with your insurer first. Some premium cards make it primary, which keeps a rental mishap off your personal policy entirely. Either way, it covers the rental car, not injuries or damage to other people; that liability comes from your own auto policy. How collision differs from liability and comprehensive is spelled out in our guide to the car insurance coverages people misunderstand . Trip cancellation and interruption. Still offered on many travel cards, and still mostly secondary to any travel insurance you bought separately. Covered reasons are narrower than people assume: illness, severe weather and similar named events, not a change of plans. Baggage delay and travel accident. Both remain common on travel cards. Baggage delay reimburses essentials while the airline finds your suitcase; … ## Every Way to Consolidate Credit Card Debt in 2026 — and the One to Be Wary Of URL: https://www.ratezip.com/types-of-debt-consolidation-48573 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-09-03T09:00:32+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Credit - Tags: debt consolidation, credit card debt, personal loans Summary: With average card APRs above 22%, consolidation is back on the table for millions. Balance transfers, personal loans, home equity, debt management plans and settlement, compared honestly. Content excerpt: Carrying credit card debt has rarely been this expensive. The average APR on card accounts actually accruing interest reached 22.15% in the second quarter of 2026, and many new offers run above 25%. At those rates, consolidation — gathering scattered balances into one cheaper, more manageable payment — is worth understanding even if you end up not using it. These are the real options, and the one that deserves your suspicion. 1. A 0% balance transfer card Promotional 0% balance-transfer windows of 12–21 months remain widely available to good-credit applicants in 2026, typically for a one-time transfer fee of 3%–5%. That fee buys months in which every dollar you pay hits principal instead of interest. The catch is discipline: if the balance is still there when the promo ends, you are back at standard APRs — and adding new purchases to the card usually defeats the whole exercise. Run the math against your actual payoff speed; our full playbook is in the credit card APR escape plan . 2. A fixed-rate personal loan If the debt will not clear inside a promo window, an unsecured personal loan converts revolving balances into a fixed payment with an end date. Average APRs on 3-year loans run around 13.4% in mid-2026 — strong-credit borrowers see less, weaker profiles more — which is a large step down from 22%. Watch origination fees of 1%–8%: a low headline rate with a big fee can lose to a plain higher rate. What used to be called peer-to-peer lending lives here now too — the retail P2P platforms of the 2010s are gone, and the successors are simply online lenders. Details and rate context: Personal Loan Rates in 2026 . 3. Home equity — cheapest rate, biggest stakes Homeowners hold record equity in 2026, and home equity lines of credit price around 7.25% — roughly a third of average card APRs. That makes a HELOC or home equity loan the cheapest consolidation money most homeowners can get, and also the most serious: you are converting unsecured card debt into debt secured by your house. Miss enough payments on a credit card and you face collections; miss enough on a home equity loan and you face foreclosure. Use it only with a payoff plan you would bet your address on. … ## USDA Home Loans: $0 Down in Eligible Rural and Suburban Areas URL: https://www.ratezip.com/usda-home-loans - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-02-21T00:12:08+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage - Tags: USDA loans, zero-down mortgage, first-time home buyer Summary: USDA guaranteed loans still offer true $0-down financing in 2026. Who qualifies, how the 1% upfront and 0.35% annual fees work, and where the maps apply. Content excerpt: Most zero-down mortgages come with a service requirement: VA loans are for veterans and military families. The big exception is the USDA guaranteed loan — the Department of Agriculture's program for buyers in eligible rural and suburban areas, and the main way a non-veteran can still buy a home with truly nothing down. How the program works In the guaranteed program, the USDA is not your lender. You borrow from a regular mortgage lender, and the federal guarantee standing behind the loan is what lets that lender offer 100% financing — a 30-year fixed loan with no down payment — along with more forgiving credit standards than conventional lending typically carries. The program's purpose shapes its rules. It exists to support homeownership in rural communities, and it is aimed at low- and moderate-income households — which surprises people who assume a mortgage program screens for high earners. This one screens them out: earn too much and you are not eligible. Two eligibility tests: the property and your income First, the property. It must be in a USDA-eligible area, and "rural" is broader than it sounds: beyond farm country, many small towns and suburban-fringe areas qualify. Do not guess from the word — look the address up on the USDA's property-eligibility site, which lets you check any specific address. Second, your household income, measured against limits that vary by county and household size. There is no universal dollar figure worth quoting, because the ceiling in one county is not the ceiling in the next; the same USDA eligibility site publishes the limits for yours. What it costs Zero down does not mean zero cost. The program charges two fees, and for federal fiscal year 2026 they are: An upfront guarantee fee of 1.00% of the loan amount, charged at closing. An annual fee of 0.35% , billed as part of your monthly payment rather than once a year. The fee schedule is reviewed each federal fiscal year, but the rates in effect when you close stay fixed for the life of your loan. The structure resembles FHA mortgage insurance — something upfront, something ongoing — but the USDA's annual fee runs lower than FHA's ongoing premium, … ## How to Build a CD Ladder in 2026: Lock In 4%+ Without Freezing Your Cash URL: https://www.ratezip.com/use-cd-ladders-better-rates-long-term - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-05-30T09:00:49+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Todays Cd Rates - Tags: CD ladder, CD rates, savings strategy Summary: With top CDs paying roughly 4.3%-4.5% APY and the Fed projecting lower rates ahead, a CD ladder locks today's yields while keeping a rung of your money maturing every year. Here's the five-rung setup, step by step. Content excerpt: For the first time in years, the problem with certificates of deposit is not that they pay too little. Top nationally available CDs pay roughly 4.3%–4.5% APY in 2026 — comfortably ahead of inflation. The problem is the opposite one: the Federal Reserve, which cut rates three times in 2025 and has held steady since, projects a median federal funds rate of about 3.1% by March 2027. The yields on offer today may not be on offer next year. That is exactly the situation a CD ladder is built for. It lets you lock in today's rates for years without locking up all of your cash. What a CD ladder is A CD ladder splits your savings across several CDs with staggered maturity dates instead of putting everything into one. Say you have $10,000. Rather than buying a single five-year CD, you divide it into five rungs of $2,000 each: $2,000 in a 1-year CD $2,000 in a 2-year CD $2,000 in a 3-year CD $2,000 in a 4-year CD $2,000 in a 5-year CD When the 1-year CD matures next September, you roll it into a new five-year CD. A year later, the original 2-year CD matures and rolls into another five-year CD, and so on. After four rollovers, every dollar is earning a five-year rate — but one rung still matures every single year. Why it works in 2026 specifically You lock the good years. A five-year CD opened near 4.4% keeps paying 4.4% even if new CDs pay 3.5% in 2027. With the Fed signaling lower rates ahead, the longer rungs of a ladder are where that protection lives. Our full breakdown of the lock-versus-liquidity decision is in CD Rates in 2026: Lock Now, or Stay Liquid? You are never fully frozen. The classic objection to CDs is the early-withdrawal penalty. In a ladder, a rung is always within a year of maturing, so an emergency does not force you to break every CD — at worst, you break one. You stop trying to time the Fed. Nobody reliably picks the top in rates. A ladder converts that guessing game into a schedule: some money locked at every point in the cycle, reinvested on autopilot. Two 2026 wrinkles worth knowing Short CDs sometimes out-pay long ones right now. With markets expecting cuts, … ## What Do I Do if I Don't Have Credit? Building a File From Zero in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/what-do-i-do-if-i-dont-have-credit-63045 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-10-04T09:00:16+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T16:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Credit - Tags: building credit, secured credit card, credit-builder loan Summary: No credit history? The 2026 playbook: a $0-fee secured card, a credit-builder loan, authorized-user status, rent and utility reporting, and the old loan advice to ignore. Content excerpt: Having no credit is not the same as having bad credit, but from a lender's chair the two can look alike: there is nothing in the file to say you pay people back. The good news is that a blank file is the easiest kind to improve, because every on-time payment you add is the whole story. Here is how to build a credit history from nothing in 2026, in the order that works. Step 1: Find out what is actually in your file Before you assume you have no credit, look. Reports are free every week from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. You may find nothing, which confirms the starting point, or an account you have never seen, which can mean someone has been using your identity; if so, report it at IdentityTheft.gov and place a free credit freeze with all three bureaus before you do anything else. Step 2: Open a secured credit card A secured card is the standard first account. You put down a refundable deposit, the issuer gives you a credit line, and the card works like any other. At the large issuers in September 2026, minimum deposits are $200 at Citi (up to $2,500) and Bank of America (up to $5,000), while Capital One will open a $200 line for a deposit of $49, $99 or $200 depending on your profile; annual fees are $0 at all three. Capital One says it automatically considers cardholders for a higher line in as little as six months; Citi begins graduation reviews at nine months and then annually, returning the deposit when the account moves to an unsecured card. Chase does not offer a secured card at all. Confirm one thing before you apply: the card must report to all three bureaus, or it is not building anything. That is also the difference between a secured card and a prepaid debit card, which looks similar and reports nothing; the comparison is in secured credit card vs. prepaid debit card . College students have a third option: student cards built for thin files (U.S. Bank, for one, still issues young-adult accounts with a cosigner). Step 3: Use it lightly and pay it in full Two habits do almost all of the work. First, pay on time every month; payment history is 35% of a FICO score, … ## What Is a Joint Credit Account? Joint vs. Authorized User vs. Co-Borrower URL: https://www.ratezip.com/what-is-a-joint-credit-account-81849 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-10-11T15:14:05+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T16:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Credit - Tags: joint credit account, authorized user, divorce and debt Summary: Joint credit cards are rare in 2026. Joint accounts (both owe it all) vs. authorized users vs. co-borrowers, and why a divorce decree does not bind the creditor. Content excerpt: Two people can share a credit account in three very different ways, and the word "joint" gets used loosely for all of them. On a true joint account both people applied, both were approved and both owe the entire balance. An authorized user spends on someone else's account and owes nothing. A co-borrower or cosigner on a mortgage or car loan signs for the whole debt alongside the primary borrower. The differences decide who pays when things go wrong, what shows up on whose credit report and how hard the arrangement is to unwind. Here is how each works in 2026. The joint credit account A joint account is opened by two applicants together. Both credit histories are checked, both names go on the agreement, both get cards, and, in the words of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, each joint account holder is responsible for the entire balance, regardless of who made the charges. The account and its payment history appear on both credit reports. There is no such thing as "your half" from the creditor's point of view. Joint credit cards, specifically, have become rare. Capital One does not offer them and notes that many major issuers do not offer cosigners either; the alternative it points to is the authorized user. Joint accounts remain common for mortgages, auto loans and bank accounts, so the joint-liability rules below matter more for a car or a house than for a card. The authorized user When you add an authorized user to your card, you remain the sole account holder. The user gets a card and can spend up to the limit, but the debt is yours, no matter how much they charge, and the issuer will not pursue them for it. In exchange, if the issuer reports authorized-user accounts to the bureaus, your account's history shows on their report, which is why parents add children and one spouse adds another who has a thin file. The flip side is that your late payment lands on their file too. Because the risk runs one way, choose the user as carefully as you would a joint borrower, set a spending limit if the issuer allows it, and read the statements. … ## What Is Alternative Credit Scoring? Rent, Utilities and Bank Data in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/what-is-alternative-credit-scoring-23327 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-09-16T09:00:38+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Credit - Tags: alternative credit data, thin credit file, credit score Summary: Rent, utility and bank cash-flow data now reach mainstream scores: Experian Boost, rent reporting, FICO 10T and VantageScore 4.0, and UltraFICO. What each does and cannot do. Content excerpt: A credit score is supposed to measure how reliably you pay what you owe. For decades it measured something narrower: how reliably you paid loans and credit cards. Rent, utilities, the phone bill and the cash in your checking account were invisible unless something went wrong and a collection showed up. The result is a familiar trap. People who never borrow, or who are new to the country or to adulthood, get treated by lenders and landlords as if they had bad credit rather than no credit. Alternative credit scoring is the effort to widen what the score can see. In 2013 that meant a handful of fringe services. In 2026 it has moved into the mainstream models, including the ones that decide mortgages. Why a thin file hurts as much as a bad one Traditional scoring models need history to work with. With no accounts, or only one or two young ones, the model either cannot produce a score at all or produces a cautious one, and that shows up everywhere a report gets pulled: mortgage applications, car loans, apartment screening, utility deposits. The old advice was to borrow purely to build a file: open a card, use it lightly, wait. That still works, and a secured card or a credit-builder loan remains the standard starting point. But it means taking on a credit product to prove something your bank statement already shows. What alternative data means today The 2013 version of alternative scoring was a set of independent companies that would verify your rent and utility payments, usually for a fee, and produce a report that only their partner lenders accepted. Those pay-to-verify services, and the "expansion" scores built on that kind of data, are history. What replaced them is data flowing into the files and models lenders already use. Experian Boost (since 2019). Free, and it adds on-time utility, phone, streaming and rent payments to your Experian file. Two limits: it touches only Experian, so a lender pulling Equifax or TransUnion sees nothing, and the effect is a modest lift for some thin files rather than a transformation. Rent reporting. Landlords and third-party rent-reporting services can send your payment history to the bureaus, where the newer models read it. … ## What to Do If You Can't Make Your Mortgage Payment in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/what-to-do-if-you-cannot-meet-your-mortgage-payment-80341 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-08-28T09:00:31+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage - Tags: mortgage hardship, forbearance, loan modification, foreclosure prevention Summary: Call your servicer first. Forbearance, repayment plans, deferral, modification, free HUD-approved counseling, and how the 120-day foreclosure clock works. Content excerpt: The 2013 version of this article opened by telling struggling homeowners to refinance at record-low rates. That advice is dead. Rates have spent 2026 in the mid-6s, and for most people short on a payment a refinance is unavailable or unhelpful. What has improved is the menu of relief servicers must consider, and the rules that give you time to use it. Here is the order of operations if you cannot make next month's payment, or already missed one. Call your servicer before the payment is missed Your servicer, the company you send payments to, decides which options you get, and it can only help once it knows there is a problem. Call as soon as you can see the shortfall coming; do not wait for the late notices. Ask three things: who owns or guarantees the loan (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA, USDA or a private investor), what loss-mitigation options that owner allows, and what documents make an application complete. Federal servicing rules buy you time. A servicer generally cannot make the first foreclosure filing until you are more than 120 days delinquent. If you submit a complete loss-mitigation application more than 37 days before any scheduled foreclosure sale, the servicer must evaluate you for every available option within 30 days, and it cannot proceed to a sale while that review is pending. Those deadlines are why a complete, early application matters more than anything else. The options, from lightest to heaviest The names vary by loan type, but the structures are consistent. Here is how they work on a Fannie Mae loan, with the FHA equivalents where they differ. Forbearance. Your payment is reduced or suspended for a set period while you recover from a temporary hardship. Fannie Mae grants it in increments of no more than three months at a time, up to a cumulative 12 months without special approval. The missed amounts are not forgiven; at the end you must reinstate, move to another option, or pay off. FHA offers the same temporary pause or reduction. Repayment plan. For a hardship that has already passed, the past-due amount is spread across your regular payments over a set period. … ## Thinking of Refinancing? Find Your Break-Even Point First URL: https://www.ratezip.com/whats-your-break-even-point-81246 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-08-14T09:00:44+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage - Tags: refinance, break-even point, mortgage rates Summary: One division problem decides most refinances: closing costs divided by monthly savings. A worked 2026 example — a 7.75% loan refinanced to 6.5% breaks even in about two years — plus the cases where the formula isn't the whole story. Content excerpt: Refinancing is live again. Everyone who locked a mortgage near the 2023 peak — when rates brushed 8% — is watching a market where the 30-year fixed has spent 2026 in the mid-6s, and February's brief dip below 6% showed how fast a better number can appear. But a lower rate alone does not make a refinance smart. One piece of arithmetic does most of the deciding: the break-even point. The formula Refinancing is not free — between lender fees, title work, appraisal and the rest, closing costs commonly run 2%–5% of the loan amount. The break-even point is how long it takes the monthly savings to pay that toll: Break-even (months) = total closing costs ÷ monthly payment savings Keep the payment comparison honest: use principal and interest on the same remaining balance, not the old payment versus a new payment that quietly stretches the term back out to 30 years. A worked 2026 example Say you hold a $400,000 balance at 7.75% from late 2023, and you can refinance at 6.5%. The move saves roughly $340 a month in principal and interest. If closing costs total $8,000: $8,000 ÷ $340 ≈ 24 months Stay in the home (and the loan) past two years and every month after is genuine savings — over $4,000 a year. Sell or refinance again at month 18 and the transaction lost money, however good the new rate felt. The question behind the number The break-even only matters against how long you expect to keep this mortgage. Planning to move in a year? Almost no refinance clears the bar. Settled for the long haul? Even a modest rate improvement eventually pays. Be honest about a third horizon too: how long before you might refinance again . In a year when forecasters see rates drifting rather than diving, serial refinancing means paying closing costs repeatedly — each reset pushes your true break-even further out. Wrinkles the formula misses "No-cost" refinances roll the costs into the rate or the balance. That can genuinely make sense if you may move or refinance again soon — you are trading a higher rate for a break-even of day one — but compare the same loan priced both ways before choosing. … ## When an ARM Might Make Sense in 2026 URL: https://www.ratezip.com/when-an-arm-might-make-sense-42894 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-04-09T16:09:20+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-04T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage - Tags: adjustable-rate mortgage, ARM, SOFR, mortgage rates Summary: 5/6, 7/6 and 10/6 SOFR ARMs explained: the late-2026 discount to the 30-year fixed, how rate caps limit the damage, and who should take one when rates could fall. Content excerpt: Adjustable-rate mortgages earned their bad name in the 2000s and have never fully shaken it. But the 2026 ARM is a different instrument, the rate environment is nearly the opposite of 2014's, and for a specific kind of borrower the math can work. The 2014 version of this piece compared a 4.33% 30-year fixed with a 3.37% 5/1 ARM. Both numbers are ancient history, and so is the 5/1 ARM itself. What a 2026 ARM actually is The old standard was the 5/1 ARM: five fixed years, then a reset every year, priced off LIBOR. LIBOR is gone; its last U.S. dollar settings ceased on June 30, 2023, and new agency ARMs price off a 30-day average of SOFR, the Secured Overnight Financing Rate published by the New York Fed. The products Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac buy today are the 5/6, 7/6 and 10/6 ARMs . The first number is the fixed period in years; the second is the adjustment interval in months. A 5/6 ARM holds its rate for five years and then resets every six months, to the SOFR average plus the margin written in your note. Twice-a-year resets mean a 2026 ARM tracks the market more closely than the old annual version, in both directions. Our mortgage-basics guide compares fixed and adjustable loan types side by side. The discount, and why it is volatile An ARM only makes sense if the fixed period is cheaper than a fixed-rate loan, and that spread is not a constant. In the Mortgage Bankers Association's weekly survey for the week ending August 21, 2026, the average contract rate was 6.78% on a 30-year fixed conforming loan and 5.98% on the five-year-fixed ARMs it tracks: a discount of about 0.8 of a point. ARMs were 7.9% of applications that week, up from 7.7%. Treat those as a snapshot, not a rule: the MBA figures move every week and the discount moves with them, so check the current spread before you assume one exists. Freddie Mac's survey for the first week of September 2026 put the 30-year fixed at 6.71% and the 15-year fixed at 6.04%; it stopped publishing an ARM rate in 2022. At the August spread, the money is real. On a $400,000 loan, 6.78% costs $2,602.37 a month in principal and interest and 5.98% costs $2,393.06, a difference of about $209 a month, … ## When Is the Right Time to Buy Life Insurance? URL: https://www.ratezip.com/when-is-the-right-time-to-buy-life-insurance-31248 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-04-23T17:10:52+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Insurance Rates - Tags: life insurance, term life insurance, financial planning Summary: Life insurance is cheapest the year before you need it: the triggers, why premiums rise 4.5% to 9% per year of age, and a 2026 price anchor. Content excerpt: Nobody buys life insurance for fun, so most people buy it late: after the baby arrives, after the mortgage closes, after a friend's funeral makes the risk concrete. The problem with late is that life insurance is priced on the day you apply, by your age and your health on that day, and both only move in one direction. The right time to buy is the moment someone would be financially stranded by your death, and the cheapest time is a little before that. The triggers Life insurance has one job: replacing money that would disappear with you. If no one depends on that money, or your savings could replace it outright, you may not need a policy at all. These are the events that create the need. Someone starts relying on your income. Marriage, a partner who shares the rent, a parent you support. The test is simple: if your paycheck stopped tomorrow, would someone else's life be upended? A child. This is the trigger most people recognize, and it is the largest, because the obligation runs for two decades. The stay-at-home parent needs coverage too; the surviving spouse would have to pay for the childcare and household work that parent provides, and that cost is real even though no paycheck records it. A mortgage or other large co-signed debt. A surviving spouse or co-signer inherits the payments. Private student loans with a co-signer belong on this list; the co-signer remains liable. A business partner. If the business could not survive the loss of one owner, a policy on each partner funds the buyout that keeps it running. Leaving a job with group coverage. Employer-provided life insurance usually ends when you do, and it is rarely enough on its own. If it was your only policy, the day you give notice is a trigger. What waiting costs Term life premiums rise roughly 4.5% to 9% for every year of age, for the same coverage and the same health. That sounds small until you compound it. A policy bought ten years later than it could have been costs roughly 1.5 to 2.4 times as much per month, and that assumes your medical file has not changed. Here is the anchor. A healthy nonsmoking 30-year-old buying a $500,000, 20-year term policy pays about $25 to $30 a month, … ## Where Can You Get a Mortgage? Banks, Credit Unions, Brokers, and Online Lenders URL: https://www.ratezip.com/where-can-i-get-a-loan-to-buy-a-home - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2014-11-05T16:44:46+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-02T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage - Tags: mortgage lenders, home buying, mortgage shopping Summary: Nonbank lenders now write almost two-thirds of US mortgages. How banks, credit unions, brokers, and online lenders differ, and how to compare offers in 2026. Content excerpt: Your home is likely to be the largest purchase of your life, and almost nobody makes it with cash. The real question is where to borrow — and the answer has changed more in the past decade than most homebuying advice lets on. The typical American mortgage no longer comes from a bank at all. Online and nonbank mortgage lenders Independent mortgage companies — lenders that originate home loans but do not take deposits or run branch networks — wrote about 65.6% of the residential mortgages made in 2025. That is almost two-thirds of the market, which makes the nonbank lender the default place Americans get a mortgage now, not the alternative. These companies do one thing, at volume. Applications run digital from the first click to closing, underwriting tends to move fast, and because they compete almost entirely on rate and speed, pricing is often sharp. Applying online is not a novelty anymore; it is simply how mortgages are done, at nonbanks and traditional banks alike. Two things to know. First, a nonbank lender is still a licensed, regulated mortgage lender — the disclosures and consumer protections are the same ones a bank owes you. Second, whoever originates your loan may later sell it or transfer its servicing. That is routine across the whole industry and does not change your rate or terms. Banks and credit unions The traditional options still matter, and they differ from each other. Banks are for-profit businesses, and their draw is usually the relationship: the bank where you already keep accounts may offer pricing discounts to existing customers, and holding your mortgage where you bank is convenient. Credit unions are member-owned nonprofits. With no shareholders to satisfy, many price mortgages competitively and keep fees low, and service tends to be personal. You must be a member to borrow — joining is usually easy — but smaller credit unions can offer a narrower menu of loan programs than a big lender. Mortgage brokers A broker does not lend money. A broker takes your single application and shops it across the wholesale side of many lenders, bringing back quotes you could not easily gather yourself. Broker compensation must be disclosed, … ## Why Your Credit Score Won't Budge (and How to Get It Moving) URL: https://www.ratezip.com/why-your-credit-score-wont-budge-79939 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-10-15T09:00:06+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Credit - Tags: credit score, credit utilization, credit repair Summary: Seven reasons a credit score stalls: the wrong debt paid first, a lingering late payment, a young file, closed cards, inquiries, model mismatch, and errors. Content excerpt: Most money problems respond to effort in a straight line: pay more on a balance and it shrinks, save more and the account grows. A credit score does not work that way. People make a plan, do the right things for months, and watch the number sit there. The frustration is understandable, and it almost always has a specific cause. A stuck score is a diagnosis problem, not a willpower problem. Here are the reasons it will not move, and the fix for each. Reason 1: You are paying down the wrong debt Amounts owed make up 30% of a FICO score, and the part of that factor that moves fastest is credit utilization: your card balances as a share of your card limits. A card near its limit hurts far more than a car loan with a similar balance, because the model reads a maxed-out revolving line as a sign of strain and an installment balance mostly as a schedule. If you have been throwing extra money at a student loan or a car note while a card sits near its limit, you have been working on the debt the score cares about least. Fix: redirect extra payments to the cards, highest utilization first, until every card is below 30% of its limit; lower is better. Paying before the statement closes, not just by the due date, shrinks the balance that gets reported. Reason 2: A late payment is still doing damage Payment history is the largest factor at 35%. A single late payment from the last year or two outweighs a lot of good behavior elsewhere, and people who are aggressively paying down debt sometimes let a small bill slip to do it, which is exactly backwards. The late mark does not disappear when you catch up; it fades as it ages and as on-time months pile up behind it. Fix: put every account on autopay for at least the minimum, then make the real payment manually. If the late payment on your report is not yours, dispute it. If it was a one-time slip on an otherwise clean account, ask the creditor in writing to remove it as a goodwill gesture; they are not obliged to, but it costs a stamp. Reason 3: Your file is young Length of credit history is 15% of the score, and there is no shortcut for it. If your oldest account is new, the model has almost no evidence, … ## You Can Afford to Buy Your Home in Cash - But Should You? URL: https://www.ratezip.com/you-can-afford-to-buy-your-home-in-cash-but-should-you-24126 - Type: article - Author: Paul Knag - Published: 2013-12-10T09:00:54+00:00 - Modified: 2026-09-03T13:00:00+00:00 - Categories: Mortgage - Tags: cash home purchase, mortgage vs cash, home equity Summary: About one in four 2026 home sales is all-cash. Skipping a mid-6s mortgage is a guaranteed return, but liquidity, taxes and your emergency fund still decide it. Content excerpt: Most buyers never face this question; they need a mortgage, so the choice makes itself. But a meaningful share of buyers do have the option. All-cash deals accounted for roughly one in four existing-home sales in early 2026. If you are in that position, the decision deserves more than "debt is bad" or "never tie up your cash." Here is how to think it through at 2026 rates. Paying cash is a guaranteed return Every dollar you do not borrow at a mid-6s mortgage rate is a dollar that stops costing you that rate, with no risk and no tax on the "return." That is the core of the case for cash. Consider a $400,000 loan at 6.5%, a rate consistent with 2026's market: the payment is about $2,528 a month in principal and interest, and the loan costs roughly $510,000 in interest over 30 years. Paying cash makes all of it disappear. It also strips the lender's fees out of your closing costs and removes any question of mortgage insurance. Compare that with what the same money earns in safe alternatives. Top high-yield savings accounts pay around 4% in 2026 and the best nationally available CDs 4.3%–4.5%. On $400,000, savings at 4% earns about $16,000 a year before tax, while the first year of that 6.5% mortgage costs roughly $25,900 in interest. Safe money does not close the gap. This is a comparison at 2026 rates, not a forecast: if deposit yields ever rose above mortgage rates the math would flip, but that is not where 2026 sits. The case for the mortgage anyway The argument against cash is not that borrowing is cheap. It is that cash tied up in a house is hard to get back out, and that a house is a single, undiversified, illiquid asset. Opportunity cost beyond savings. A diversified stock portfolio may beat a mid-6s mortgage over a long holding period, or it may not. Nobody can promise it, and the mortgage payment is due in the years the market falls. Choosing the mortgage on the theory that investments will out-earn it is taking a risk to earn a spread, not collecting a free lunch. Liquidity. If the money for the house is most of your money, paying cash leaves you house-rich and cash-poor. …